Volume 4 Chapter 68

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Volume 4 Chapter 68: Flaw

"Thank you, Xu Fan."

Number 4 watched with a satisfied expression as Number 5 fell from the sky and died, then turned to Xu Qingfan and leisurely said.

Meanwhile, in the sky on the other side, Xu Qingfan was intently staring at Number 4. Although he had an inkling of what Number 4 meant by not helping, he coldly asked, "Thank me for what?"

At this moment, Xu Qingfan felt a persistent ache in his heart. Although he disliked wasting time with unnecessary words before a life-and-death battle, he had to use it as a distraction.

Xu Qingfan was stalling for time, not only to ease the pain in his mind but also to think of a strategy against Number 4.

It was clear that Number 4 understood Xu Qingfan’s intention, but he didn’t care. For him, killing Xu Qingfan even when fully recovered seemed effortless. So, he allowed Xu Qingfan to continue thinking while he leisurely said, "That Number 5 was really annoying. He was the weakest, yet the most arrogant. I couldn’t stand him for a long time. If he wasn’t favored by the master, I would have eliminated him myself. His show-off nature worked in my favor; I could deal with him using someone else’s hand during missions. But every opponent we faced was so weak, even weaker than Number 5. They couldn’t kill him; instead, they got killed. I thought I would always have to endure his arrogance, but you’ve made a name for yourself in the cultivation world and killed him. You surprised and pleased me. Shouldn’t I thank you?"

Saying this, Number 4 gave Xu Qingfan a lazy smile full of friendliness and added, "Honestly, if it weren’t for the master’s orders, I wouldn’t bear to kill you."

As Number 4 spoke leisurely, Xu Qingfan was continuously thinking of strategies to deal with him.

The ability Number 4 showed seemed unbelievable to Xu Qingfan. Instead of using the usual cultivation methods with elemental Spirit Qi, he attacked directly at the Original Soul. Consequently, Xu Qingfan found his "Five Spirit Bell" treasure ineffective. It could block most worldly attacks but was useless against direct soul-targeting assaults.

Yet, is there truly no way to handle Number 4? Remembering the soul-tearing pain after Number 4’s earlier attack and seeing his harmless, relaxed smile now sent shivers down Xu Qingfan’s spine.

Xu Qingfan estimated that with the direct attacks on his Original Soul by Number 4, he could withstand up to ten attacks at most. If he exceeded this limit, his Original Soul would collapse, leaving him a soulless husk.

Even though Xu Qingfan felt powerless against Number 4’s abilities, he forced himself to remain calm and think carefully about a strategy.

Staying calm is especially important in life-and-death situations. Panic and a sense of helplessness do not help overcome an enemy.

Indeed, once Xu Qingfan calmed down, he soon realized that Number 4’s attack might not have been as terrifying as he had initially thought.

Just as there is no absolutely impenetrable defense, there is also no attack that cannot be defended against. Although Number 4’s attack seemed unstoppable, there must be some weakness to exploit. If Number 4 could truly ignore all defenses and attack the Original Soul directly, his master would already be invincible, with no need for secrecy.

Reflecting on the known mighty arts in the cultivation world, Xu Qingfan found that they all had flaws. They either required immense Spirit Qi, took too long to prepare, couldn’t be interrupted, or demanded the caster’s own life or body as a price.

So, what is the flaw in Number 4’s soul-attacking power?

First, Xu Qingfan ruled out the possibility that the power required long preparation, as Number 4 could attack continuously without pause. He also dismissed the idea that it harmed the user, as Number 4 seemed selfish and wouldn’t use it if it hurt him.

This left only two possibilities: the power must not be interrupted or it consumed a large amount of Spirit Qi.

Thinking about this, Xu Qingfan suddenly paused, realizing that as Number 4 kept chatting away and seemed completely unconcerned, was he also recovering his inner Spirit Qi while Xu Qingfan was recovering?

On the other side, after recounting the years of grudges between himself and Number 5, Number 4 noticed that Xu Qingfan not only didn’t respond but instead seemed lost in thought, ignoring him completely. Finding it somewhat boring, he sneered, "It seems you, like Number 5, don’t know how to respect others. What are you thinking about while I’m talking? Your last words?"

But Number 4’s words were only halfway through when his expression changed, because in front of him, Xu Qingfan suddenly turned into a swirling gray wind, fiercely rushing towards him, reaching just ten feet away in the blink of an eye.

Seeing the gray whirlwind approaching, Number 4 frowned slightly and, just as before, extended his hand and pointed at the approaching storm.

In his heart, Xu Qingfan felt a bit fearful of this mysterious power, and his body, transformed into the "Wind of Desolation," quickly shifted to avoid Number 4’s point.

Meanwhile, Number 4 seized the opportunity while Xu Qingfan retreated to quickly back away, creating more distance between himself and the "Wind of Desolation" that Xu Qingfan had become. Once he steadied himself, he didn’t hesitate to unleash three consecutive strikes at Xu Qingfan.

Although Xu Qingfan had reached an incredible speed after becoming the "Wind of Desolation," Number 4’s attacks were also extremely fast. Facing Number 4’s continuous attacks, Xu Qingfan managed to dodge two strikes but couldn’t avoid the third, which struck him mid-air. Xu Qingfan felt a searing pain as if his mind was torn apart, his "Wind of Desolation" form flickered, but he steadied himself and continued to charge at Number 4.

This time, Xu Qingfan fully utilized the speed advantage granted by transforming into the Wind, moving unpredictably as he gradually closed the gap with Number 4.

Number 4 watched as Xu Qingfan relentlessly pursued him, frowning even more deeply. He hadn’t expected Xu Qingfan to dare to counterattack at this moment. Previously, his opponents had always given up resistance in the face of his unstoppable "Art of Annihilation."

"Very well, I’ll slowly torture you to death with the ‘Art of Annihilation’. It’s quite amusing to see a cultivator act like a fool once their Original Soul collapses."

Number 4 watched the approaching "Wind of Desolation" with a lazy smile and thought to himself.

Thinking this, Number 4 continued to target the "Wind of Desolation" that Xu Qingfan had become, forcing Xu Qingfan to retreat, then stepped back to create distance and continued to attack with the "Art of Annihilation".

Although Xu Qingfan’s transformed "Wind of Desolation" was exceptionally fast and evaded most of Number 4’s attacks, irritating him greatly, Number 4’s "Art of Annihilation" was both silent and invisible, with no flash of light or trace of Spirit Qi. It disregarded distance, and a single touch inflicted serious harm on the Original Soul, leaving Xu Qingfan defenseless. During this, Xu Qingfan endured two more hits from Number 4.

Including the previous four strikes from Number 4’s ambush and the first blow at the start, Xu Qingfan had been struck seven times in total. Repeated hits left Xu Qingfan’s Divine Sense dazed, every thought causing bursts of sharp pain, nearing collapse, while the distance between them remained only twenty feet.

Twenty feet, a gap Xu Qingfan could normally close in an instant, now seemed an insurmountable barrier.

Both Xu Qingfan and Number 4 knew if Xu Qingfan was hit two or three more times, his Divine Sense would collapse.

Strangely, Xu Qingfan suddenly gave up the approach, with his form of the "Wind of Desolation" retreating rapidly, creating a hundred-foot gap, while Number 4, momentarily stunned, allowed Xu Qingfan to withdraw without continued attack.

As Xu Qingfan pulled back, the "Wind of Desolation" quickly condensed, returning to his original form. Despite the pain and mental haze, a slight smile appeared on his face for some reason.

Seeing Xu Qingfan no longer using his incredibly fast "Transform into the Wind" ability and reverting to his true form instead, a hint of disdainful smile appeared on Number 4’s face. To him, it seemed like Xu Qingfan was courting death.

Although Xu Qingfan suddenly widened the distance, which caught him by surprise, the "Art of Annihilation" pays no heed to distance; if targeted, the mind would suffer a heavy blow. If he remained in "Transform into the Wind," he could potentially dodge with speed, but Xu Qingfan revealing his true form made Number 4 think Xu Qingfan had given up.

Then, Number 4 saw Xu Qingfan take out the "Five Spirit Bell" once more, and the disdain on his face grew even stronger.

"Doesn’t he realize after the earlier lesson that ordinary artifacts can’t defend against my ‘Art of Annihilation’?"

With this in mind, Number 4 extended his finger again, preparing to point at Xu Qingfan.

"Since you helped me kill Number 5, I’ll ensure you at least have a whole corpse," Number 4 murmured.

But just as Number 4 was about to unleash the "Art of Annihilation," he saw the "Five Spirit Bell" in Xu Qingfan’s hand start to float, and Xu Qingfan’s finger suddenly flicked against it.

"Ding…"

A long, ancient-sounding bell tone suddenly echoed just as Number 4 was executing the "Art of Annihilation."

The "Art of Annihilation" is simply a technique where one transforms the Original Soul into a blade to directly attack an opponent’s Original Soul. When Number 4 used this "Art of Annihilation," the reverberating chime that targets the Original Soul rang out, causing more backlash than the usual methods he employed. The severe damage to Number 4’s spirit this time was akin to being struck by the "Art of Annihilation" two or three times consecutively.

Suddenly, Number 4 spewed a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale as he stared at Xu Qingfan in disbelief.

The timing of the chime was impeccable, ringing out precisely as he performed the "Art of Annihilation." To Number 4, this seemed impossible, as only someone vastly superior to him could decipher the rhythm of his technique.

Not deterred, Number 4 reached out again, pointing at Xu Qingfan. But just like the last time, the chime interrupted his "Art of Annihilation," causing him to suffer its backlash.

After suffering repeated blows, Number 4 stared at Xu Qingfan, who was observing him with a half-smile from a distance. He calmed down, and after a moment, his expression shifted to one of realization. He fixed his gaze on Xu Qingfan, and the previous nonchalance in his voice was replaced with a chill, similar to Number 5’s demeanor.

"When you transformed into the wind and attacked me earlier, you weren’t just trying to kill me, were you? You were using that chance to observe the timing and habits of my technique."

Seeing Number 4 suddenly speak up, Xu Qingfan nodded slightly and replied calmly, "I originally thought each time you used that soul-harming ability, it would drain a lot of your spirit or energy. So, my plan was to wear you down. However, I found that using this power is not difficult for you, which was my mistake. Instead, I observed how you use this technique. I noticed that before you point your finger, you habitually raise your arm a bit. That’s not a good habit. Even though my level isn’t much lower than yours, I can still easily predict the timing of your attacks."

Hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, Number 4 wasn’t surprised. He nodded with a hint of regret and said, "Number One had already warned me of this, but since my previous opponents were always easily defeated, I ignored it. I didn’t expect you to take advantage of it."

With a slight sigh, Number 4 looked directly at Xu Qingfan and said, "But if I pay attention to this detail, what will you do then?"

Just as Number 4 was speaking, Xu Qingfan turned into a gray whirlwind again, rushing towards Number 4.

Seeing Xu Qingfan, transformed into the wind, rushing at him, Number 4 was momentarily stunned. He thought Xu Fan’s actions always surprised him. When Number 4 believed Xu Qingfan would rely on the magical ability "Transform into the Wind" to engage him, Xu Qingfan suddenly reverted to his true form. When Number 4 thought Xu Qingfan would continue using the "Five Spirit Bell" to interrupt his spells, Xu Qingfan transformed into the "Wind of Desolation" and attacked.

In that brief moment of surprise, Number 4 lost his first chance to block Xu Qingfan, and in an instant, Xu Qingfan was already three yards in front of him.

However, Number 4 was not worried, because earlier Xu Qingfan had tried to sneak up on him from that distance, and he had blocked him, hitting Xu Qingfan with three fingers in a row.

But just as Number 4 was about to use the "Art of Annihilation," he recalled what Xu Qingfan had said about raising his hand high before using it. His arm paused, resisting the habit, and he pointed towards Xu Qingfan. But having been backfired twice before by the "Art of Annihilation," Number 4’s Original Soul had been severely damaged. This time, it caused him pain and delayed his action.

As Number 4’s arm paused and his Original Soul ached, Xu Qingfan closed the two-yard distance between them, and in the blink of an eye, was only a yard away from Number 4.

Seeing the gray hurricane so close, and recalling the terrifying scene when Number 5 was engulfed by it, a flicker of panic crossed Number 4’s eyes.

Yet, at this moment, Number 4’s "Art of Annihilation" had already been unleashed.

Number 4 thought that faced with the "Art of Annihilation," Xu Qingfan should want to dodge. But Xu Qingfan endured the hit, bearing the searing pain in his mind, forcibly sustaining the "Wind of Desolation," and continued rushing at Number 4 without slowing down.

Just as Xu Qingfan expected, Number 4 offered no resistance and was enveloped by the "Wind of Desolation." Under its powerful corrosive force, he couldn’t help but scream in agony.

Before, the first time Xu Qingfan used the "Wind of Desolation" to attack Number 4, he discovered Number 4’s habits before spellcasting and confirmed one thing: since Number 4’s technique didn’t consume much Spirit Qi, the flaw must be that he couldn’t be interrupted during casting, and his body had no defense during that time.

Number 4’s behavior was just as Xu Qingfan predicted. While moving, Number 4 never used this technique, and right before and after casting, his body would stiffen slightly.

Xu Qingfan knew that just understanding Number 4’s habits before casting wasn’t enough to defeat him, so he made a plan. By repeatedly interrupting Number 4’s spells using his knowledge of Number 4’s habits, causing backlash, and making Number 4 wary of his habits when casting, along with a sneak attack and Number 4’s consistent underestimation, Xu Qingfan believed the delays would be enough to kill Number 4.

The cost was taking just one hit from Number 4. Though terrifying, compared to defeating the enemy, Xu Qingfan was willing to make that sacrifice.

Sure enough, after taking a direct hit from Number 4, the "Wind of Desolation" Xu Qingfan transformed into successfully engulfed Number 4, ignoring his wails and continually corroding Number 4’s body and sapping his life. To prevent Number 4 from using any other powers, Xu Qingfan directed the Wind of Desolation through every pore on Number 4’s body, as well as his mouth, eyes, and nose, accelerating the corrosion.

In this way, Number 4’s wails continued for as long as it takes to drink a cup of tea, growing weaker until they finally vanished completely.

When Xu Qingfan transformed back from the wind into his true form, the wind dispersed in the sky, and a skeleton dressed in purple quickly fell from the sky, scattering upon hitting the ground.