Chapter 270

Such a dazzling blade was extremely shocking; Fei En didn't dare to gamble on its power, so he retracted his offense and blocked the strike with the small shield on his left arm.

Yet the force coming from the shield was far lighter than he had imagined; this frivolous dragonfly‑touch‑water move absolutely did not match the opponent's incredible speed.

Could it be…

"Sneak attack? Young man, you have no martial ethics!"

He shouted a stern rebuke, and Ji Ming exerted force with his rear hand, throwing a punch straight at Fei En's signature hooked nose.

!!!

Although Fei En barely dodged the attack with a swift, decisive backward lean, the punch's wind still scraped his face, making it sting.

"Damn!"

Startled and angry, he let out a roar that cleared the fear rising in his heart, gritted his teeth, and immediately chopped a knife to his side—but when the blade fell, he found nothing there.

It turned out the black‑clad mysterious person had already retreated and withdrawn, standing in front of Boris, his robe falling as he achieved the ultimate goal of this maneuver unscathed.

"Damn it..."

He wiped his cheek with the back of his hand, and Fei En noticed a speck of blood on his glove, secretly startled.

At this moment his mercenaries had rushed over; if he hadn't dodged that move, his lifelong reputation in Sunlight City would be completely ruined.

Watching Greed's cheek swell from that slap, his mouth askew and eyes slanted, only able to lift his head with a twisted neck, he drew the conclusion on the spot.

——This is definitely a force that could serve as a pillar in the Inner City; when did Sunlight City acquire such an existence?

He stood firm against Greed, repelled Fei En with a single punch, and Ji Ming could intervene with force—naturally relying on more than just his calculations.

In fact, after half a month of intensive training, he now possesses such a status panel.

【Name: Ji Ming】

【Level: 28 (420/680)】

【Vitality: 51】

【Agility: 51】

【Wisdom: 60】

【Charisma: 60】

【Technique: Upright Qi Nurturing Body Technique·First Turn·Eleventh Layer】

【Free Attribute Points: 0】

【Free Skill Points: 18】

Thanks to the various wild monsters in the combat training camp providing experience, his level has surged to twenty‑eight, even surpassing Greed, that useless junk.

Although due to world laws, the harvest of hunting experience for many species has hit its cap, for now he cannot instantly advance to intermediate professional.

But for strength and agility, the invincible Upright Qi Nurturing Body Technique carries the numbers forward, and as the training level rises, the growth intensity keeps increasing.

Moreover, although it's hard to assess group expertise, the core of the alchemist profession is continuously producing various potent buffs that take effect upon consumption.

Thus, from revitalizing elixir to strength potion, Ji Ming beforehand drank all the combat‑support potions he had, stacking various enhancements on left and right foot.

Even if his actual stats still can't match those of same‑level warriors, they have reached the point where skill can bridge the gap.

As for technique…

"Ahhh, you bastard, you dare hit my face—I'm the lord of the three tribes, I'm the president of all adventurers!"

As a desperate gambler who has staked all his wealth and life on the table, Greed's mind has already been addled by chaotic desires.

He howled and grunted as he rushed toward the black‑clad man, forgetting to pick up his own most‑relied‑upon weapon, trying to strangle him to death with his bulging‑muscled arms.

Fei En saw the problem but didn't warn him—after all, why not let a fool scout the way for him?

Thus, in the next second, the other side of the boar‑man's face received from the very fair Ji Ming a red swelling of exactly the same height.

Under the tremendous force, even two streams of blood spurted from his nostrils, staining the area a clown‑like red.

But Greed, seeing stars, still not giving up, roared and waved his hands, trying to catch that utterly hateful mysterious person.

Even if he only managed to grab a corner of the clothing, he had full confidence using the boar tribe's signature skill to snap the opponent's spine cleanly.

But to pull off this script perfectly, he first needs to be able to grab him—yet the fact is he can't even tell where the opponent is.

For some, the mask is a disguise, but for Ji Ming, this question‑mark mask is practically the key to unlocking his true self!

No need to play the orderly benevolent god‑chosen, nor the reliable savior—since no one will know who I am, just give him a good beating.

"Here."

"You can't keep up, right?"

"Do you need me to slow down a bit?"

Thus Ji Ming kept throwing punches while continually dodging, each strike aimed at Greed, who had already been beaten into… well, a pig's head.

In just five seconds he Ping A'ed over a hundred times; to onlookers it looked like two shadows flipping up and down, and Greed's head turned an eerie dark red.

Throughout, Fei En's expression grew grave as he watched—not because of how miserable Greed's beating was, but because he suddenly recalled the source of that swift movement.

——Elves!

Although five hundred years have passed, just as thieves fear the word 'thief', the illegitimate Deep Forest folk are especially sensitive to the word 'elf'.

Could it be that beneath the mask lies an unusually vengeful elf with pointed ears, or someone else related to elves?

Guessing won't work, but there's a simpler method than guessing.

He shifted his steps, seizing the moment when he lay in the mysterious person's blind spot to rush forward, arm shield ahead, straight for the opponent's front.

But what Ji Ming was waiting for was precisely the moment when he could no longer restrain himself from taking the initiative!

The Holy One's Judgment and the Shovel are the representative combat techniques of the god‑chosen; using the merchant's title would certainly not be something to employ lightly.

Perfect, he will try the 'Heaven‑to‑Blade' brought by the first revolution of the Upright Qi Nurturing Body Technique!

"Holy Temple Warrior, draw your light blade!"

Pure Upright Qi surged forth, forming a blade‑like sharp structure on his right hand resembling a fist blade, and the pale gold light representing human kindness shone in the darkness.

"What?"

Why would someone have such a bizarre attack style! Could it be that he's so poor he can't even afford a sword?

Fei En likewise didn't dare gamble on the damage of this weird gadget, so while retracting his left arm, he swung his right-hand blade down to test the waters.

But the heavy blade striking the thin light blade didn't shatter on contact as Fei En had imagined; instead, the two scraped out dazzling sparks and remained locked in that state.

No, it's not a stalemate!

As an extremely experienced old swordsman, Fei En was astonished to discover that this strange golden light was actually slowly cutting his weapon.

If this continues, it will surely be split apart!

The mercenary leader, heartbroken to the point of bleeding, exclaimed: "Damn it!"

Helpless, he could only jerk both arms, simultaneously pushing back the mysterious figure while grabbing Ge Lei De's collar from behind, forcibly dragging him—or rather using him as a shield while retreating.

Hiding among the mercenaries, having secured his safety, he lowered his head and glanced, discovering that the smooth, sharp blade indeed bore a tiny nick.

As a former knight, in his view life outweighs armor, armor outweighs weapons, and weapons outweigh everything else.

Thus, the sword he holds was forged by a renowned bladesmith using supremely precious top-grade materials, meticulously crafted, and had cleaved countless people without suffering a single nick.

He wiped it with cloth by day and oiled it by night, cherishing it immensely for years; he never expected that a mere slight collision today would cause such severe damage.

Good heavens, what on earth am I fighting against, this chaotic mess!

No, this bastard absolutely cannot be left alive; if he remains, he will surely interfere with my plans!

Taking a slight breath, the resolute Fei En gulped down a bottle of bright red potion; when he exhaled again, his breath was tinged with a faint white.

Shen Lin Wang Guo could become the first beneficiary after the fall of the Holy Tree Kingdom, relying on a powerful noble army to seize the most fertile lands from everyone's hands.

Within this aristocratic militaristic system, they naturally have countless ways to boost soldiers' combat power, for example, this potion modeled after berserk beastmen, called the "Berserk" potion.

If the effect of the Rejuvenation Liquid is to nourish silently, then the Berserk Potion's effect is like a torrential downpour, violently boosting the user's physical abilities, with the cost to be settled later.

Thus, in the next moment, Fei En's body jerked forward like an enraged bull, charging at the black-clad figure still standing in place, his gleaming blade tracing a beautiful arc in the night.

As the second-ranked combatant openly in Sunshine City, this strike's momentum is beyond doubt; if it were usual, Ji Ming would definitely turn and flee.

But now I've even earned the title of novice village boss; even if I ultimately have to run, I should do so with a bit more dignity.

Rather, I might as well exchange a few moves with this strong opponent now, gauge my current depth, and see what my true strength really is.

Thus, in the next second, the blade and light blade scraped out blazing sparks, and before the glow faded, another crisp ringing sounded.

In many games, a two-handed sword means slower attack speed and greater reach, while a one-handed sword means faster attack speed and shorter reach.

But in reality, perhaps the opposite holds: gripping a sword with both hands creates leverage, allowing greater force to be unleashed in faster combos with less effort.

Holding a sword with one hand lets you stand sideways, effectively increasing your attack range by using your body's length and leg stance.

Therefore, even with up to sixty intellect aiding in distance calculation and operation judgment, Ji Ming, who is not adept at this weapon, still needs to simultaneously summon two light blades to barely keep up with Fei En's truly berserk-speed rapid assault.

He had also tried abandoning the light blades to revert to his most familiar polearm, but aside from the indestructible long-handled shovel granted by the system, even the spear personally forged by Master Weiermo would soon have its head shattered in such fierce collisions.

However, after another all-out offensive and defensive exchange, the battle blade in Fei En's hand also reached the end of its life.

The shattered blade fragments scattered in the flashing sparks, one piece even slicing Fei En's cheek.

"Damn it!"

Baring a grin showing his teeth, he looked at his hand, now holding a bare hilt, and flung it to the ground.

On the other side, Ji Ming, aside from being able to cheerfully throw out a trash talk at the start, thereafter became silent and taciturn.

It wasn't that he had run out of words, but that speaking further would cost him his life!

Thus, the sword's breaking actually saved his life; if this continued, he wouldn't last thirty rounds before being defeated for failing to keep up the pace.

Of course, the quote marks around 'saved' are warranted, for this time Ji Ming openly and honorably used no scheming tactics, engaging in a pure physical melee relying solely on his stats.

If it were truly a life-or-death moment, Ji Ming would insist that the venerable Master Fei En publicly demonstrate how to halt the imminent explosive slip of the intestines when all four limbs cramp simultaneously.

Thus, in such a life-or-death struggle, the side-effect-free Rejuvenation Liquid demonstrated its superiority.

Ji Ming, in his extremely ragged breathing, need only tremble as he twisted open the bottle of SpiritGathering Liquid and downed it in one gulp to gradually soothe the faint aches of his five viscera and six bowels from the fierce collision.

But Fei En felt that after the brief excitement and vitality, an overwhelming fatigue crept over his limbs and bones; though not yet enough to strip him of combat ability, it was absolutely a plunge from heaven to hellish despair.

So when he saw the black-clad figure revive on the spot after a brief slump, even drawing his own dagger, eager to try, seemingly wanting a second round, his heart was already unable to utter a single curse.

——This damn cheat is absolutely hacking; I'm level thirty-eight and still can't beat him!

However, he certainly couldn't show his rising desire to retreat; instead, he straightened his back as much as possible, preserving the last shred of dignity.

"Your martial prowess is indeed impressive, I truly admire it; since you must inevitably be an enemy of Mr. Boris and us, I cannot deny you this face."

But that black-clad person, upon receiving the offered step, didn't hurry to dismount; instead, he began hopping left and right on the slope, suddenly blurting out a line.

"Chicken?"

Fei En: "I..."

This definitely comes from elsewhere; our Sunshine City has nothing so bastardly!

If Ji Ming's Divine Selection is synonymous with gentle benevolence and virtuous conduct, then this question‑mark‑headed one is the antithesis of Ji Ming's Divine Selection.

But now that it's come to this, no matter how towering Fei En's inner rage, it's meaningless; he can only swallow this mute loss with a cold face.

"You're sharp‑tongued; you'd better pray you forever retain matching skills, or sooner or later you'll suffer a loss in this matter!"

After forcing a condescending lecture, he had others steady the dazed Ge Lei De, and with the mercenaries vanished into the darkness.

Seeing them depart, Ji Ming did not relax his vigilance; only after hooking his finger and hearing no fart did he return to Boris's side.

This Leopard Head also counts as a tough guy; he actually kept his spirits up without fainting, lifting his head with difficulty to ask.

"Who exactly are you, sir, and why are you willing to save me?"

Ji Ming instinctively replied with a sentence

"I am your father......"

Then he hastily corrected himself.

"...... Your late father's friend, come to Sunshine City to see you."