Chapter 99: Without Hardness, There's No Way to Blend In

Ding! 40% slowdown effect triggered. Ding! Freeze triggered, lasting three seconds.

Under Qin Chuan's rapid assaults, the vortex that spun at blinding speed began to slow from its frenzied rotation and ultimately froze in place.

Crack crack crack, snap!

Boom!

In the end, this massive vortex shattered into fragments and slowly dispersed at the lake's bottom.

Gasp!

Qin Chuan's sequence of moves left all the water people utterly stunned, and they couldn't help but gasp in horror.

In truth, this group synergy skill of the water people could only be activated in water, relying entirely on the environment to unleash such overwhelming power and effects.

Once successfully released, even the water people could no longer control it, and it could only slowly dissipate.

But Qin Chuan had actually pierced and destroyed the vortex, which struck the water people as incredibly unbelievable.

At this moment, the Fire Dragon had faded, returning to its dormant state within the dragon patterns, while the faint orange glow emanating from the Dragon Pattern Ice Jade Sword shone with exceptional brilliance.

Gasp! I never imagined this was still an orange spirit weapon!

Yet the power of this orange spirit weapon had completely surpassed my imagination.

...

The water lord appeared somewhat gloomy and uncertain. He had never expected his cherished group synergy skill to be neutralized so easily.

But he refused to concede, whether for the sake of the water lotus seed or the spirit core of the orange spirit weapon. He had no reason to abandon it.

Moreover, he could not believe that with his level-28 strength, he still could not handle this Dragon Pattern Ice Sword of only level 25.

Even though the sword's abilities seemed somewhat special.

I have to admit you do possess some skill, but in the face of absolute power, you are nothing but a joke.

The water lord condensed a trident and prepared to settle the matter with Qin Chuan.

Although the water lord had already used one skill, he still held great confidence in slaying Qin Chuan.

In the five-star region, the sinister and terrifying water lord dwelling in this lake had long been a subject of rumor.

Thus, all spirit beasts avoided the lakeside, fearing misfortune.

The water lord specialized in frontal assaults, and his remaining skills were also excellent.

Water Spirit Body (Passive): While in water, each level increases 10% Toughness Value and 10% Speed Value, currently level 9.

Human-Water Swap (Active): In human form, increase 50% Sharpness Value; in water form, Sharpness Value becomes 0 and 50% Toughness Value is gained, no level.

Endless Wave (Active): Stuns targets within a 5-meter radius and restricts all skills. Each level adds 0.2 seconds of control time, currently level 9.

The ultimate skill divides into two phases: human form and water form.

Backwater Triple Strike (Active): In human form, within 1 second, continuously launch three attacks on targets within 5 meters. Each level adds 5% Sharpness Value, currently level 6.

Weak Water Peerless (Active): In water form, each level adds 0.2 seconds of immunity, currently level 6.

From the skills, the water lord's combat operability was exceptionally strong, and he possessed four active skills, meaning the absence of one water vortex would not diminish his fighting strength.

Qin Chuan's ability to one-shot the two guarding water people primarily stemmed from his terrifying Sharpness Value and the surprise element of his attacks.

Finally, the water lord's three attributes were also outstanding.

In human form: Sharpness Value 900+, Toughness Value 800+ (already including passive), Speed Value 650+ (already including passive).

In water form: Toughness Value 1200+ (already including passive), Speed Value 650+ (already including passive).

In water form, the water lord's sole attack method was the water vortex.

Since that skill had already been used, his water-form state offered almost no other offensive options.

Yet his 1200+ Toughness Value and 1.2-second immunity granted him an overwhelmingly secure survival window.

Qin Chuan's state in water had also been affected, with Sharpness Value 918+, Toughness Value 780+, and Speed Value 700+.

From the numbers, the disparity between the two was not vast, and the water lord even held a slight edge.

Because neither side knew the other's skills, neither launched an offensive for a time.

After a moment of silence, the water lord took the initiative, though his assault remained probing.

The water lord thrust his trident toward Qin Chuan, which could be seen as a basic attack.

Qin Chuan saw the water lord closing in and showed no panic; instead, he swam forward to meet the strike head-on.

A muffled metallic clang echoed from the water, and this counter strike ended in a near tie.

The water lord looked visibly surprised: "I didn't expect you to be so tough!"

Qin Chuan replied indifferently, "Without toughness, one cannot survive."

Both sides now guarded against each other's skills, maintaining complete patience and caution.

Thus, they exchanged several more rounds, keeping each other in mind aside from skill usage.

The decisive factor became who would first expose a weakness, and victory would hinge on the precise control of skills.

They clashed for dozens more rounds. Qin Chuan gradually fell into a defensive posture, while the water lord fought with growing vigor and began relentlessly pursuing.

Lord, so valiant and invincible, victory is assured!

Lord's divine might eclipses the world, victory is assured!

...

For a time, the surrounding water people became cheerleaders, tirelessly rallying for the water lord as if subtly pressuring Qin Chuan.

At that instant, the water lord gathered all his strength and fiercely slammed forward: "Come, take my strike!"

Qin Chuan seemed unable to dodge in time and could only block horizontally with his sword.

Clang!

This time, Qin Chuan was repelled five meters, appearing somewhat exhausted.

Haha, the opportunity has arrived!

Such a clear advantage would not be wasted by the water lord. Seeing Qin Chuan recoil, he roared urgently, "Endless Wave!"

The trident spun once in his grip, then shook violently downward, unleashing a blue light that streaked outward.

The water lord's movements, though elaborate, took only half a second.

By spiritual realm convention, control skills carried a delay, and that half second was precisely the window of vulnerability.

Once the blue light struck Qin Chuan, he would enter a 1.8-second stun, unable to use any skills whatsoever.

In such a state, resistance was impossible.

Simultaneously, the water lord confidently unleashed Backwater Triple Strike, aiming to pierce Qin Chuan into oblivion.

During Backwater Triple Strike, his Sharpness Value would surge to 1170+.

Even a single strike would inflict catastrophic damage.

At this moment, the two companions were frantic yet silenced by the water, their mouths useless for communication—except for the water people, who were an exception.

The water lord believed he had seized the upper hand and rashly released both supreme skills.

Yet all this had been well within Qin Chuan's calculations. Displaying weakness and deliberately creating openings were standard combat tactics.

The water lord, as a dominant force, had always crushed opponents through sheer overwhelming strength and knew little of such sophisticated techniques.

Even as he remained cautious, the water people's cheers had ignited his bloodlust.

Unwittingly, he had fallen into Qin Chuan's trap.

Qin Chuan observed the water lord's dazzling maneuvers and knew an ultimate control skill was imminent.

Thus, while retreating, Qin Chuan decisively activated Blink.

The next instant, Qin Chuan emerged unharmed beside the water lord.

A graceful smile curved the corner of his mouth as he said, "At this moment, I believe you must be extremely surprised."