After My Favorability Level Is Up to the Top

Chapter 135 - The Best Support

“Ah!” Loo Kuto exclaimed in surprise, releasing a wretched cry.

[Sword in the Box - Heart-killing Evil Gall], as an artifact of divine caliber in the advanced stages of the game, naturally boasted remarkable effects.

Historically, it had led to numerous fatalities and afflicted generations of Sword Masters, transforming them into unrecognizable monsters estranged from their own kin.

Subsequently, the Sword Soul was shattered and sealed away. Over hundreds, perhaps thousands of years, it languished as an ordinary longsword within the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

Now, it had once again fallen into the hands of Guo Fan, emerging into the light of day.

Its appearance unveiled its savage and formidable nature upon entering the world.

The inaugural skirmish of the Edge Opening Battle pitted it against Loo Kuto, the renowned “Infatuation Sword,” a top sword cultivator at the Physical Integration Period. It proved its mettle as an unrivaled weapon.

Reality attested that not even a practitioner at the Physical Integration Period could endure its wrath.

The agony that pierced the divine soul defied description in physical terms, akin to the torment of soul rending.

It was an inadequate comparison.

It resembled the sensation of thrusting two sharp toothpicks between your toes and forcefully striking a wall.

Such was the magnitude of pain.

Even a seasoned high-level Immortal Cultivator would struggle to withstand such anguish on their maiden encounter.

At that fleeting moment.

Fang Xiang's [Tempered Gold Fragment] severed Loo Kuto's mental link with his weapon, causing his assault to falter. Subsequently, Guo Fan exploited the opening with a sonorous strike to his rear.

The synchronization between them was impeccable and seamless, catching him, a seasoned fighter honed in constant combat as a Physical Integration Period sword cultivator, completely off guard.

Fang Xiang's [Tempered Metallic Fragment] possessed the capability to halt even Sun Fen's Greenlotus Sword.

This sword was the second among the top ten renowned swords, widely acclaimed as the foremost sword globally.

Dealing with the unfamiliar sword in Loo Kuto's possession naturally posed minimal challenge.

However, the pivotal factor lay in Guo Fan's strike.

“Curses! What manner of weapon is this?”

Loo Kuto nearly lost consciousness, his breathing becoming erratic. Despite the difficulty in defense, he dared not relinquish his grip on the sword. Grimly, he persisted in employing the second stance of Ling Jue Weighted Will - Deadfall!

Deadfall signified a willingness to stake one's life to endure!

“Swoosh!”

The sword's radiance cleaved once more, amidst the golden flames, carving out a desperate path to survival. The potent Spiritual Energy trailed the sword's edge, launching another assault on Fang Xiang.

The Lord of Night's Fall Sword City issued a resounding cry, altering tactics. He activated [Furnace of Heaven and Earth], where golden flames intertwined, transforming into a molten liquid to intercept the cleaving sword radiance.

The collision of Spiritual Energy generated a gale that ravaged the study, rending apart every page.

“Huala!”

The study now lay in disarray.

Fortuitously, the dark guards had already opened the defensive formation of the City Lord Mansion. Otherwise, it would have spelled catastrophe for the entire city.

Guo Fan consulted the illustrated handbook to assess Fang Xiang's condition. Her physical health remained intact, but her mana was rapidly depleting.

Being a non-combatant, she faced significant challenges combating a swordsmith, a profession well-versed in trade. Moreover, she directly confronted a sword cultivator.

It wouldn't be long before her mana drained completely, rendering her armor ineffective. Even if she initially held an advantage, she would inevitably revert to her original state soon.

Guo Fan's eyes glinted as he flicked his finger once more.

“Swish!” The sword's hum resumed, hurtling toward Loo Kuto with renewed vigor.

[The new White Bone Ghost's voice fell on deaf ears.]

Despite lingering pain in his Niwan Palace and reddened eyes, Loo Kuto reflexively reacted upon hearing the sword's sound.

His hand trembled, pushed forward by Fang Xiang on the opposing side, shattering the advantage he had painstakingly gained.

Gritting his teeth, the elderly servant exclaimed, “Ten thousand!”

Employing Ling Jue's third style, “Ten Thousand Weighted Intents - Splash!”

Those who immersed themselves in swordplay naturally innovated famous sword techniques, including the Dao of Sound Kill.

A clash of Sound Kills!

Swiftly retreating, he first cast a defensive spell before executing a sword technique. His sword intent embodied the primordial chaos, encompassing the sounds of creation.

However, he misjudged! The intent wasn't focused on physical harm but on assaulting the soul within the sea of consciousness.

Its true target wasn't the body but the soul within the sea of consciousness.

When the victim suffered a fatal blow, the initial impact targeted the upper dantian, where the divine soul resided. While resembling Sonic Killers in principle, the method employed was fundamentally distinct.

Accompanying the technique of Heart-Killing were eight subsidiary skills. Due to his current level of cultivation, Guo Fan could only proficiently execute four of them, as utilizing more posed a risk of either corrosion or reverse corrosion.

The primary technique, known as “Sword in the Box Buzzing,” functioned akin to a conventional attack. However, being a spiritual assault, it remained vulnerable to physical and magical defenses, rendering it practically insurmountable.

Within the lore of the Obsidian Tribes, the sea god's soul held profound mysteries, intricately linked with the cycle of life and death. Presently, comprehension of this entity eluded all.

Only enlightened beings like Liao Mu, who had grasped the Dao, wielded the authority to influence divine awareness.

The remainder constituted his younger sibling.

The secondary skill, “New White Bone Ghost,” remained unheard by all. Initially, it functioned as a genuine lethal maneuver, each strike dealing fatal blows.

This term referred specifically to the sword itself, housing the accumulated resentment and murderous intent of souls entrapped within its blade for millennia.

Fang Xiang had earlier contained these dispersed entities.

Despite being deemed insurmountable, even the Spirit Forest Palace had been sealed and vanished. Theoretically, the existence of ghosts seemed implausible.

Nevertheless, this weapon succeeded in confining departed souls, a phenomenon bordering on the miraculous.

Its workings remained deeply enigmatic.

Most significantly, Guo Fan possessed clear insight into Fang Xiang's impending moves, her condition, and the optimal means of cooperation, thanks to the comprehensive data stored in his mind.

In his current capacity, Guo Fan served as an invaluable asset on the battlefield.

While his cultivation and combat prowess fell short of Fang Xiang's, engaging in a battle of disparate ranks was out of the question for him.

He wasn't some swindler.

Yet when it came to his skills with cards, he was unparalleled.

“What are these items?”

Loo Kuto's heart churned with a torrent of negative feelings, his Niwan Palace wracked with unbearable agony. The wails of malevolent spirits and shattered souls reverberated in his ears. His internal organs quaked violently, and his meridians felt as if they were being ripped apart, causing him to involuntarily expel a spurt of blood.

It was the first encounter with such overwhelming negative effects, ones he had never faced before. Even the most formidable sword cultivator would struggle to endure.

Seizing the advantage, Fang Xiang pursued relentlessly. Her tactics shifted once more, the balance of Yin and Yang transmuting into charcoal, altering the course of the battle. Harnessing the momentum of her assault, Spiritual Energy coalesced, morphing the golden flames into a symbol resembling a yin and yang fish. With a resounding crash, Loo Kuto was sent hurtling through the air.

Crash! Crash! Crash!

En route, Loo Kuto plunged his sword into the earth, leaving a lengthy gouge in the ground before coming to a halt, gasping for breath.

It all transpired within a matter of moments.

A clash between warriors of the Physical Integration Period was beyond the reach of cultivators with lower cultivation bases. Neither the concealed guards nor Xun Yimu could intervene.

Only Guo Fan discerned the opportune moment from the Stats Window.

However…

“Profound Yin Young Lord, refrain from acting. Otherwise, your blade might falter, risking harm to yourself.”

A graceful figure cloaked in black, adorned with a wooden mask, stood behind Xun Yimu. Her voice carried a chilly indifference. A short blade rested against the pale, slender neck of the young lady, emitting a menacing glint.

Who dictated that one must directly engage in combat to emerge victorious?

This time, the ultimate support came from Yueh!