Chapter 42: Who Says This Imperial Artifact Is Outdated? This Imperial Artifact Is Amazing!

One day remains before meeting up with Esdeath.

Although they were not far from Water Capital, the team had grown far bulkier than on the way here, and their movement speed had slowed to a crawl.

After killing three horned tigers and securing today’s meal, Jia Ji still couldn’t let go—he felt he might still have a chance to use the Imperial Artifact.

He wasn’t planning to abandon his fist and foot techniques to switch to sword arts; he simply wanted to give it a try.

After all, there were only forty-eight Imperial Artifacts in the entire world, twelve of which were missing, and every remaining one was priceless.

Now, right at his side, he had an Imperial Artifact so crude and straightforward it required no strange conditions to use—if he couldn’t wield it, wouldn’t that be a terrible waste?

Xiao Chitong gnawed on meat while watching Jia Ji rise, draw his Murasame from his waist, and assume an awkward stance.

From his build, he was the classic “tiger back, wasp waist, mantis legs”—his entire body bristled with explosive power, his trapezius muscles towering, shoulders drawn inward, hands gripping the hilt firmly on the ground, radiating a terrifying edge that seemed to cut through all things.

Finding his old black robe too cumbersome, Jia Ji had discarded it after capturing his target; now his short tunic barely concealed his ferocious aura.

His gaze sharpened, and he roared—

“Ultimate Secret Sword: Fire Cliff Flame Spirit!”

The imagined scenario involved using the oils of past victims seeping through the blade’s fine patterns, igniting flames on the edge via heat from friction during combat—between blade and blade, blade and ground—to achieve dual damage.

In reality, Jia Ji’s brute-force swing of Murasame had merely chopped down one unlucky sapling; not only did it fail to release its poison, Murasame showed not the slightest interest in him.

Bro thought wrapping a bandage around his head made him Shishio Makoto.

Jia Ji hung his head, disheartened, and sheathed Murasame—this thing was no different from an ordinary sword to him, except that it was slightly sturdier.

Why did Imperial Artifacts discriminate against people from other worlds?

If only he were a Wave Warrior—he could just unleash a resonance and make these stubborn Imperial Artifacts beg to serve him.

“What’s wrong?” Chelsea, having finished chewing, leaned slightly closer with a lollipop in her mouth, curious.

Through these days of companionship, though she always felt Jia Ji’s thinking was strange, she sensed he was actually a decent-hearted fellow.

Chelsea had some confidence in her judgment.

“You, a beautiful girl who gets Imperial Artifacts chasing after you, wouldn’t understand…” Here, Jia Ji suddenly seemed to recall something—he rushed to the broken sapling, snapped off a straight twig, and began scribbling furiously on the ground, leaving Chelsea utterly baffled behind him.

When the girl leaned over his shoulder to peek, Jia Ji tossed aside the twig, stepped aside, wiped away his gloom, straightened his posture, and beamed: “Chelsea-chan, can you turn into this?”

Turn into what?

Chelsea stared closely—the drawing on the ground depicted a creature she’d never seen: something neither human nor cat.

Jia Ji’s drawing skills were mediocre, but his lines were straight and smooth; within a few strokes, he had captured the image vividly.

“This round thing is its hand, its feet are round balls, its ears and body are blue, its mouth is like a rabbit’s, its eyes are like beans… yeah, you can call this thing an Ailu Cat.”

“Uh…” The orange-haired girl didn’t know what to say—let alone whether she could transform into this Daidai creature, even if she could, she wasn’t eager to.

Because deep down, she had a bad feeling—as if transforming into this Dai cat would trigger something unpleasant.

“Change now!” Jia Ji pointed at the drawing, grinning mischievously with anticipation.

She had only ever heard of cats turning into people; never before had she heard of a person being asked to turn into a cat.

“O-okay, fine, I’ll change….”

Knowing this guy wouldn’t stop until he got his way, and that her premonition was just a premonition, and that she couldn’t resist this annoying fellow, Chelsea finally sighed and complied.

A puff of white mist rose, and the youthful, beautiful female assassin transformed into a bizarre creature.

About half a person’s height, standing on two legs, a cute blue cat that seemed utterly harmless.

Yet Jia Ji frowned, seemingly dissatisfied—he pointed at the Dai cat’s chest.

“Too big. Too human. Fix it!”

The Chelsea-Ailu Cat form nodded helplessly.

Since she’d already transformed, she might as well make it accurate.

This time, strictly following Jia Ji’s instructions, she reduced certain parts, rounded others, until he nodded in satisfaction—Chelsea now possessed a perfect Ailu Cat form.

“Perfect! Hold it!” Jia Ji was ecstatic. “Gaia foundation makeup, right… Who says this Imperial Artifact is outdated? This Imperial Artifact is amazing!”

There are no useless Imperial Artifacts—only useless Imperial Artifact users!

“How long do I have to keep this form? It’s draining…” The giant Dai cat spoke in a clear, cute girl’s voice—using the Imperial Artifact had always been a heavy burden for her; though she’d considered adjustments, she had no good solution.

Hearing that sweet, youthful voice, Jia Ji frowned: “From now on, call me Boss. Always add ‘meow’ at the end.”

Do the role properly—see it through to the end.

With things this far gone, Chelsea could only nod helplessly—she began regretting why she’d asked that one question when Jia Ji was testing his blade.

Curiosity is terrifying!

“Boss, transforming is exhausting, meow.”

Jia Ji studied Chelsea in her Dai cat form, sensing something was missing—then he realized: weapons!

This realization made him furious—it reminded him of his own useless Murasame.

“Come here!” Jia Ji called to the others. When they gathered, he asked: “Do any of you know where to find weapons made from giant insect limbs—or weapons that can both smash like a hammer and play melodies to enhance abilities?”

Bring me my Insect Manipulation Rod and Hunting Flute!

The kids exchanged glances—they’d lived in isolation too long to know such things; he was mainly asking Barbara and Miaozi.

Miaozi shook her head outright; Barbara looked thoughtful.

“Any leads? Speak quickly!”

“I’ve never heard of the first kind. As for the second… I’m not certain, but I’ve heard rumors that some soldiers in the army possess musical Imperial Artifacts that may enhance the listener’s physical abilities.”

“Eh—”

Jia Ji sighed in disappointment.

Said nothing.

Better to keep exploring Chelsea’s potential.

Chelsea: [Never saying meow again]

① “Ultimate Secret Sword: Fire Cliff Flame Spirit” is a technique of Shishio Makoto from Rurouni Kenshin.

ps: Lord Shishio never loses!

② Ailu Cat, don’t turn around—my Dragon Piercer just moved ()

Jia Ji, you’re not even human!

To write something like this, I must be a god.





(End of Chapter)