Chapter Nine: The Gourd Brothers Rescue Grandfather
The system prompts echoed relentlessly in Qin Chuan’s ears, like a symphony of exquisite music that lifted his spirits.
“Ding! Killed Level 9 Refined Iron Sword, gained 450 experience points, bonus 100% experience for defeating a higher-level enemy, congratulations on earning 900 experience points.”
...
“Ding! Successful devour, gained 90 evolution points.”
...
“Ding! Congratulations, host has reached Level 9, new skill point acquired.”
“Ding! Skill ‘Flow Strike’ Phase Two activated, available for upgrade.”
“Well then, forgive me—I’ve leveled up again.”
The experience from those dozen Refined Iron Swords was just enough to push Qin Chuan to Level 9.
“Whoa, another surprise!”
Excitement surged in Qin Chuan’s heart as he hurried to check his status.
Skill ‘Flow Strike’ Phase Two: After locking onto a target, you can glide five meters within three seconds, automatically returning to the original position when time is up. Alternatively, you can choose not to activate Phase Two and return immediately.
“Damn! This skill is amazing. It can be used to escape or finish off enemies. If paired with a critical hit effect, it would be unstoppable!”
“Too bad it’s only a glide, not a blink. Otherwise, this skill would be overpowered.”
Now, Qin Chuan hesitated, unsure how to proceed. Upgrading skills could bring substantial attribute boosts.
Based on current attributes, it was almost as good as a mutation evolution.
“So difficult! Never mind, I’ll hold off for now and decide based on how things develop.”
Qin Chuan was experienced; he’d encountered this dilemma in games before. The best approach was to allocate points as needed.
After all, every point spent could determine the outcome of the next battle.
Since Qin Chuan didn’t allocate points, his overall attributes changed little.
Evolution Points: 2340/6400
Experience: 300/51200
Rage: 90/100
After waiting a while and seeing no more Refined Iron Swords approaching, a sudden idea struck him.
“Help! Someone’s stealing the mine, requesting backup!”
“Help! Someone’s stealing the mine, requesting backup!”
Qin Chuan shouted at the top of his lungs, then quickly hid.
“Clang! Clang! Clang!”
From afar, the sound of Refined Iron Swords hitting the ground echoed. Hearing the call, the swords rushed over.
“Over here, hurry!”
A flurry of urgent voices followed, and soon a swarm of Refined Iron Swords arrived—twenty this time, even more than before.
“Well now, this’ll take some effort.”
While secretly delighted, Qin Chuan muttered to himself.
Suddenly, green light flashed, and a hundred sword shadows swept down, striking the densest cluster of Refined Iron Swords.
“Uh, opening with an ultimate—this isn’t a good habit.”
Normally, ultimates could turn the tide and were used cautiously since their cooldowns were long.
“Ding! Killed Level 9 Refined Iron Sword, gained 450 experience points.”
“Ding! Killed Level 9 Refined Iron Sword, gained 450 experience points.”
...
A barrage of kills followed, and his experience soared.
After unleashing his ultimate, Qin Chuan didn’t idle; he charged forward!
“My movement and basic attack, critical hit!”
With a single sword slash, he felled another.
Qin Chuan weaved through the Refined Iron Swords, his extraordinary speed and elusive maneuvers leaving them unable to touch him.
“What’s going on, am I seeing things?”
“Damn it, why are you hitting me?”
“Hey, sword granny, stand still if you’ve got guts!”
Chaos erupted among the Refined Iron Swords.
“Move, basic attack, finish off, absorb rage.”
“Haha! My basic attack crit will be your end!”
Qin Chuan’s dazzling movement was fluid and graceful; he didn’t even need skills to dispatch most of the remaining Refined Iron Swords.
The few that were left stood dumbfounded, terrified and fleeing for their lives.
“Everyone, run! Go find the Lord!”
“Haha, don’t run, let’s keep playing.”
Qin Chuan felt a rush of satisfaction, but his hands were ruthless, his Flow Strike skill nearly instantaneously unleashed.
“Chiu chiu chiu!”
“Ahhh!”
“Ding! Killed Level 9 Refined Iron Sword, gained 450 experience points.”
“Ding! Killed Level 9 Refined Iron Sword, gained 450 experience points.”
...
“Devour the essence!”
“Ding! Successful devour, gained 90 evolution points.”
“Ding! Successful devour, gained 90 evolution points.”
...
This wave brought a bountiful harvest.
Evolution Points: 4320/6400
Experience: 9300/51200
Rage: 90/100
Qin Chuan happily glanced at his panel. “Wow, I’m about to evolve again.”
“Buzz!”
Just then, a trembling roar echoed, shaking the ground.
A Refined Iron Sword bathed in green light stabbed into the earth from afar, its hilt set with a blue gem and wrapped with a piece of soft leather.
The green light signified exceptional quality, and the blue gem marked it as second-tier.
“Ding! Second-tier, inferior-grade Refined Iron Sword Lord discovered—quality: exceptional, Level 10.”
“Damn! This guy has quite the aura!”
“You stole my mine and slaughtered my subordinates—your crimes are unforgivable!”
The Refined Iron Sword Lord’s voice was filled with fury, making the blade tremble.
“You must be mistaken. Let me clarify—I didn’t slaughter anyone. It was all swift, one-sword farewells.”
“No matter what, you must die. I’ll make you part of me.”
Though the Lord was enraged, he remained calm and didn’t act rashly—a second-tier opponent was indeed formidable.
“Haha, fate it is. I happen to think the same.”
Compared to the Lord’s anger, Qin Chuan was composed and casual.
Qin Chuan knew that the second-tier Refined Iron Sword Lord was a formidable foe. Tactically, he could look down on him; strategically, he had to respect him.
Both sides began wary, and the mine fell silent, only the two green-lit swords facing each other.
In terms of rank and level, the Lord had the advantage, but Qin Chuan’s strength lay in his abnormal attributes and flexible combat style.
Thus, their first moves were bound to be probing.
“Flying Shadow Thrust!”
“Flow Strike!”
Both attacked almost simultaneously, each using their skills.
“Clang!”
“Damn! Tough and sharp!”
The first clash revealed that the Lord’s sharpness exceeded Qin Chuan’s, but his own tenacity was slightly higher.
“Damn! No wonder you grew up with iron.”
Meanwhile, the Lord was just as shocked—perhaps even more so.
“I’m second-tier, with a blue spirit orb attribute boost—yet I can’t overcome this mere Level 9 Black Iron Sword!”
The first exchange ended with neither side gaining an advantage, no injuries incurred.
But Qin Chuan was already confident of victory; the Lord’s sharpness and tenacity were high, but his speed was lacking.
Perhaps among his kind, the Lord’s speed was decent, but he was facing the abnormal Qin Chuan.
Having formulated his tactic, Qin Chuan launched into his flamboyant movement.
Move, basic attack, move, basic attack—dense strikes left marks on the Lord’s blade. Whenever the Lord drew near, Qin Chuan would blink away to keep his distance.
“Haha, didn’t you say you’d kill me? Come on, then! You can’t hit me and must endure my continuous assault.”
“Damn it!”
The Lord had never felt so stifled—what was this? He couldn’t comprehend Qin Chuan’s fighting style.
His past battles were direct and brutal: whoever had higher sharpness and toughness won. Now, their strengths were similar, yet he was utterly overwhelmed.
The battle became one-sided, the Black Iron Sword circling the Lord, attacking relentlessly.
“Critical! Critical! Give me a critical!”
Qin Chuan shouted as he attacked, deliberately raising his rage.
“Ding! Rage is full.”
“Haha! Take my critical strike!”
Without hesitation, Qin Chuan unleashed Flow Strike!
“Chiu!”
“Ding! Critical hit triggered!”
“Clang! Crack!”
“Ah!”
A fierce critical landed, inflicting immense damage on the Lord—a hairline crack appeared on his blade.
Qin Chuan pressed his advantage, continuing to move and attack.
After a barrage of attacks, the Lord could no longer withstand it and unleashed his ultimate.
“Sword Song of the Four Directions!”
“Buzz!”
The Lord became ethereal, four sword shadows manifesting and launching attacks from all sides at Qin Chuan.
“Whoa, I’m out!”
Qin Chuan instantly blinked four meters, escaping the attack range.
“Huh? Damn! Are you serious—a second-tier Lord is running away?”
By now, the Lord was barely hanging on, his blade covered in fine cracks. After unleashing his ultimate, he fled.
The Lord ignored Qin Chuan, leaping forward desperately, inwardly screaming, “Don’t come any closer, stay away!”