Chapter 31: Chapter 28 Kill! Kill! Kill!
"Another thirty-six Fire Armored Warriors!"
"The Cross Rapid-Kill Sword Skills endowed with Sword Intent, it's indeed the combat power means I used when killing the first batch of Fire Armored Warriors!"
Ye Chen watched the second batch of Fire Armored Warriors charging towards him and with a slight shift in his gaze, he instantly comprehended the examination method of this first challenge.
"To pass this challenge, I must kill a total of seventy-five Fire Armored Warriors."
"In the previous round, I have already slain thirty-six. I need to kill thirty-nine more, meaning if I wish to pass, all thirty-six Warriors from this batch must be killed too!"
"Moreover, I don't just want to pass; the Cave Abode Master mentioned that by killing all one hundred and eight Fire Armored Warriors, I would receive a special reward.
Considering how mystical this Cave Abode is, the reward it offers is certainly no ordinary item, I must strive to kill all one hundred and eight Fire Armored Warriors and secure that special reward!"
Ye Chen's eyes, gazing at the Fire Armored Warriors shooting towards him like lightning, burst forth with intense combat desire.
"No matter what, all thirty-six Fire Armored Warriors from this batch must die!"
Boom!
In an instant, Ye Chen's body burst forth, his Yellow Class intermediate movement technique "Startling Goose Steps" exploding out as he directly shot towards one of the Fire Armored Warriors.
"Swordsmanship, Sword Intent!"
"Swordsmanship is the technique of martial skills, whereas Sword Intent is the realm means of utilizing these martial skill techniques!"
"My Sword Intent, obtained through comprehending the basis of Torrential Rain Sword Skills, aims directly at the origin of the 'Torrential Rain Sword Skills'—transforming all things into a torrential rain, obliterating everything!"
"Although both the 'Cross Rapid-Kill Sword Skills' and 'Torrential Rain Sword Skills' are swift sword techniques, my Sword Intent, when used with 'Torrential Rain Sword Skills', is the most apt!"
"How could Cross Rapid-Kill Sword Skills augmented with Sword Intent possibly compare with my Torrential Rain Sword Skills enhanced by Sword Intent!"
"Torrential Rain, Annihilation Strike!"
Ye Chen, who was speeding toward a Fire Armored Warrior, instantly dodged the attacks of the other warriors.
With a flick of his fingers, thousands of strands of True Qi burst forth, turning into a drop of torrential rain that pierced through everything, aiming straight at the Fire Armored Warrior he had set his sights on.
Fast!
This droplet of True Qi Storm Rain, truly endowed with the annihilating essence of torrential rain, was unbelievably fast, having already surpassed the speed limit of Cross Rapid-Kill Sword Skills.
The Fire Armored Warrior that was utilizing Cross Rapid-Kill Sword Skills and charging at Ye Chen hadn't even launched an attack when the droplet of True Qi Storm Rain released by Ye Chen already flew in front of the Warrior's head.
Pfft!
The power of the Torrential Rain Annihilation Strike, breaking through everything, this droplet of Sword Rain pierced directly through the Fire Armored Warrior's head. The terrifying momentum of the rain violently erupted, a loud 'bang' completely shattered the head of the Fire Armored Warrior.
Bang!
The Fire Armored Warrior exploded on the spot, turning into a ball of Fire Light True Qi.
The thirty-seventh Fire Armored Warrior, dead!
"Again!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Ye Chen did not bother with the Fire Light True Qi that had entered his body. Surrounded by Fire Armored Warriors, there was no time for other thoughts; his entire focus was concentrated on the remaining thirty-five Fire Armored Warriors.
Kill! Kill! Kill!
With each leap Ye Chen took, a droplet of True Qi Storm Rain blasted out, instantly obliterating a Fire Armored Warrior into nothingness.
Thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty...
Moments later, the second batch of Fire Armored Warriors in the corridor had been nearly wiped out.
And Ye Chen, having more room to maneuver, didn't hesitate at all; millions of strands of True Qi burst from within his body, forming into more than a dozen droplets of True Qi Storm Rain.
Torrential Rain Filling the Skies! Group Killing Skills!
This time, the sky-filled torrential rain corresponded to one Fire Armored Warrior each.
"The last thirteen Fire Armored Warriors, die!"
Ye Chen stood still, while the thirteen droplets of True Qi Storm Rain he had unleashed shot out wildly, instantly piercing through the last thirteen Fire Armored Warriors.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bang!
Inside the corridor, thirteen Fire Armored Warriors exploded simultaneously, turning into thirteen spheres of Fire Light True Qi.
Next, this large mass of Fire Light True Qi surged towards Ye Chen's body.
Ye Chen's meridians opened wide, and the True Qi Vortex in his Qi Sea trembled slightly as he absorbed the huge mass of Fire Light True Qi into the vortex, replenishing the True Qi he had expended.
"Having killed seventy-two Fire Armored Warriors, the absorbed Fire Light True Qi has brought me to the pinnacle of the fifth layer of True Qi!"
At this moment, the five True Qi Vortices inside Ye Chen had swelled to their maximum, ready to break through to the sixth layer of True Qi!
"Just thirty-six more Fire Armored Warriors to go!"
"Upon killing all of them, I will be able to completely advance into the sixth layer of True Qi!"
Ye Chen looked at the massive Fire Rune chart on the corridor's ceiling, his mind and spirit intensely stirred.
...
"Storm Rain Sword Intent, so the Insight he has comprehended is the Storm Rain Sword Intent."
Watching Ye Chen swiftly annihilate another thirty-six Fire Armored Warriors in mere moments, the Three-Eyed Giant Ape nodded its head in approval.
"Kill three more, and he'll pass the first trial of the Outer Mansion."
"Now, he has already unleashed Torrential Rain Sword Intent, yet it remains to be seen if he has any other means to deal with the subsequent thirty-six Fire Armored Warriors.
According to the Fire Rune Chart laws forged by the master, the third wave of Fire Armored Warriors will each be capable of unleashing Storm Rain Sword Intent, just like he just did."
The second wave of Fire Armored Warriors usually forces the challenger to reveal their strongest abilities, but the third wave represents the true test.
Excelling in defeating the second wave feels gratifying, but without other methods, one would easily fail against the third wave of Fire Armored Warriors.
The Three-Eyed Giant Ape greatly looked forward to Ye Chen's performance in the upcoming challenge.
"Torrential Rain Sword Intent?"
Jiang Yao's eyes brightened as she watched the True Qi Storm Rain instantly slay the Fire Armored Warrior before Ye Chen.
"His Sword Intent is somewhat similar to the Purple Lightning Sword Intent I've comprehended!"
"Sword techniques are derived from all things in nature, while Sword Intents return to the origin of all things. Torrential Rain Sword Intent captures the essence of rain's rapid descent, just as my 'Purple Lightning Sword Intent' is about the flickering of lightning's glow..."
"However, when I faced the 'Path of Water,' I also comprehended a movement technique called 'Purple Lightning Wings,' which allowed me to slay all one hundred and eight Water Armored Warriors. I wonder if he has any other means to confront the last wave of thirty-six Fire Armored Warriors."
The young girl furrowed her beautiful brows, her gaze returning to Ye Chen.
"The final thirty-six Fire Armored Warriors!"
Ye Chen's eyes sparkled as he watched thirty-six fiery light clusters shoot out from the giant fire pattern for the third time, transforming into thirty-six Fire Armored Warriors.
"This time, they'll probably all use True Qi Storm Rain, won't they!"
"Then let's have a true contest of strength!"
From the second wave of Fire Armored Warriors, Ye Chen learned the trial rules of the giant fire pattern. Nonetheless, he did not hesitate to unleash his full Torrential Rain Sword Intent.
What he wanted was to engage in a genuine battle with the powerful third wave of Fire Armored Warriors!
Only in a true test of strength could he truly evaluate his ultimate combat power!
"Fire Armored Warriors, born of True Qi fire orbs, possess great strength but are lifeless. However, they have one advantage: their overwhelming numbers."
"And I have not only Sword Intent but also the Primordial Star Scripture, which they have never cultivated!"
"We each have our advantages and disadvantages; it's time for a real battle!"
"Come forth!"
Ye Chen's heart surged with fighting spirit. The last thirty-six Fire Armored Warriors had already turned their swords into thirty-six drops of torrential rain, shooting towards him from all directions.
A sky filled with swords, a sky roaring with death!
The very strategy Ye Chen once used against others was now one he had to contend with.
"Even if it's a torrential downpour, there are still gaps!"
"What I need is to weave through those gaps!"
At that moment, Ye Chen no longer held anything back. His "Qi Force, Eight Extraordinary Meridians, and Thirty-Three Meridian Wheels" all opened at once, and his control over his surroundings reached an inconceivable level.
Each sword of the torrential rain aimed at him was anticipated in his predictions.
And at the same time, the five great True Qi Vortices within Ye Chen's body shook furiously, unleashing countless strands of azure True Qi. Between his fingers, a dazzling silver-white energy began to converge.
This was indeed the "Gang Yuan True Qi" he had refined from cultivating the "Gang Yuan Mantra" of the Primordial Star Scripture!
Now, in this final battle, he finally used the Gang Yuan True Qi!
Gang Yuan True Qi, as described by the "Gang Yuan Mantra" of the Primordial Star Scripture, is much more formidable than Heaven and Earth True Qi. Now was the time to test the true power of Gang Yuan True Qi!
"Gang Yuan Torrential Rain!"
Facing the onslaught of seven Fire Armored Warriors and their True Qi Storm Rain, Ye Chen's hand shone with silver brilliance. In an instant, his finger became like a sword, and the silver energy on it like an unrivaled sword light!
Amidst the flickering light, the sword light formed by Ye Chen's finger clashed with the swords of the seven Fire Armored Warriors' Storm Rain.
In the blinding light, Ye Chen's finger-turned-sword actually sliced through all seven fiery arrows in an instant!
And there was more — the bursting silver radiance suddenly expanded, tracing a dazzling silver arc that immediately bisected all seven Fire Armored Warriors!
With one move, seven Fire Armored Warriors fell!
The Gang Yuan True Qi was powerfully overwhelming! Faced with the same level of martial skills and Sword Intents, the Heaven and Earth True Qi stood no chance against Gang Yuan True Qi!
"What!"
"What kind of martial skill is this!"
Outside the Fire and Water Dao, both the Three-Eyed Giant Ape and Jiang Yao were visibly shaken upon seeing Ye Chen slay seven Fire Armored Warriors in one move.
The third wave of Fire Armored Warriors was the toughest challenge. In previous trials, challengers found it extremely difficult to slay even one of this final batch of warriors.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be said that slaying three Fire Armored Warriors in the third wave was enough to pass the trial.
Now, Ye Chen had slain seven in the third wave with a single move, taking the total number of Fire Armored Warriors he had killed to seventy-nine, surpassing the required number to pass!
Watching Ye Chen spring forth with arms wide as if a tiger leaping into a flock of sheep, towards the third wave of Fire Armored Warriors, Jiang Yao felt a surge of emotion for the first time.
This young man named Ye Chen might indeed be the one who would accompany her into the Inner Mansion of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode!