Chapter 215: Chapter 189: Between Blades (Part 2)

Where the sword blade passed, those humanoid forms of Evil Qi were easily sliced apart like paper.

The sharp killing intent, that is a weapon sharper than any blade.

"So why are you running?"

With the sharp blade in hand, Du Chengfeng only needed a few powerful leaps to charge close to the figure wielding the halberd.

"You’re not using the Overlord Halberd correctly; you should be more domineering."

"I am the embodiment of dominion itself!"

The figure identical to Du Chengfeng swung the great halberd.

As long as it killed Du Chengfeng, it could take over this body completely. Eliminating this last trace of consciousness, it would truly own everything about this body — the powerful physique, the equally immense strength, all the skills, even all the memories.

Possessing the body and being reborn with just a fragment of a soul is undoubtedly the ultimate manifestation of dominion.

Yes, this is it — the ultimate achievement of the top practitioners among the ancient Chu people’s survivors, proving that consciousness can indeed be transferred. However, it requires erasing the other’s consciousness, achieving the most thorough control and plunder of this body — fundamentally, it resembles Evil Qi entering the body, but while Evil Qi merely drives one insane, this method can completely erase consciousness and swallow everything about this body, allowing oneself to be reborn within it.

But now, it can’t truly erase the last bit of Du Chengfeng’s consciousness.

No matter how it rouses all the Evil Qi within Du Chengfeng to launch a counterattack, the situation remains unchanged.

"Why won’t you die!"

The heavy Overlord Halberd was pinned on Du Chengfeng, the sharp blade of the halberd even slicing open half of Du Chengfeng’s shoulder.

"Why won’t you die! Why aren’t you dead yet!"

"Isn’t this what you said?"

Even though his entire left shoulder was split open, Du Chengfeng remained calm.

"Thought cannot be killed, so how could I die?"

"...Did I say that?"

The figure gripping the halberd was momentarily stunned.

But immediately, another large hand grabbed the halberd.

"Aha, got you."

Grasping the twisted spine-like pole of the halberd with his left hand, Du Chengfeng thrust his sharp sword towards the figure wielding the halberd with his right hand.

"Where will you run this time!"

The halberd-wielding figure had no time to let go of the halberd before the sharp longsword pierced through its head.

With a single slash, the halberd-wielding figure, having lost half its head, faded away once more.

Together with the halberd embedded in Du Chengfeng’s shoulder.

This left Du Chengfeng somewhat disappointed; he had thought he could manage to take the halberd by enduring a blow, but it seems he was overthinking — although, for him, this injury was no big deal. After all, the current him wasn’t truly flesh and blood, right?

Rubbing a single palm over the wound, the horrible tear in his shoulder returned to normal.

Thought cannot be killed; he had to thank the halberd-wielding figure for reminding him of this.

"But I don’t believe, I don’t believe you truly can’t be killed."

He swung open a few grassland warriors blocking his path. Du Chengfeng looked around once more and spotted the halberd-wielding figure in the crowd.

"If once doesn’t work, then twice. If twice doesn’t work, then five times. If five times don’t work, then ten times. If ten times don’t work, then a hundred times. If a hundred times don’t work, then two hundred times... Ultimately, trying a few more times, it will surely work."

"You..."

The figure holding the halberd was furious to the point of explosion.

What do you mean try a few more times? What do you mean it will surely work? How could this wretch be so patient? Doesn’t he have anything else to do?

It seems, there truly wasn’t anything else to do.

Having invaded Du Chengfeng’s body and acquired some of his memories, it was all the more aware that indeed, Du Chengfeng had nothing else to do.

Or more precisely, confusion.

Du Chengfeng once simply desired to live his life well, but after realizing the madness of this world, he ultimately turned to pursue strength. Yet throughout this process, even though Du Chengfeng had reached logical coherence several times, as his knowledge increased, so too did the unknown aspects.

This wasn’t even about standing at the crossroads of fate because a crossroads offers at least four options, whereas what faced Du Chengfeng was the unknown itself.

Now, it indeed had taken over this body, controlled the Evil Qi within, and even forced Du Chengfeng’s remaining consciousness to the edge.

But this, conversely, made Du Chengfeng have something to do.

With nothing else to do, Du Chengfeng could commit one hundred percent of his focus against it, caring neither about time nor efficiency — for he had nothing else to do and didn’t know what else he should be doing.

But as for it...

Could it truly devote one hundred percent of its focus?

"Hey, if we’re fighting, then fight; why are you getting distracted?"

In the moment of the halberd-wielding figure’s distraction, the sharp longsword already slashed off its head.

Du Chengfeng, completely focused, wielded the sword in his hand, having not been this earnest in a long time. On one hand, previous opponents were genuinely too weak; on the other hand, there were too many things he wished to explore — ever since the onset, martial combat had shifted for him from life-and-death struggles to explorations and studies of Evil Qi. Although this indeed allowed him to learn more about Evil Qi, it also meant he hadn’t felt that clashing of wills in a while.

But now, after beginning to fight seriously, that feeling seemed to return.

Perhaps this is the benefit of being earnest; no need to worry about forgotten attempts, no need to ponder what Evil Qi really is. He only needed to wield the sword, to fight, to earnestly slash with each sword stroke, killing the enemy in front of him.

Amidst the intersection of blades, the killing intent and hatred concentrated on the strike were as clear, as vivid.

Extreme focus honed his perception finely.

The halberd swept from behind, but Du Chengfeng lifted his sword to parry. Theoretically, this was impossible to succeed in; even if he parried the spine-like pole, the halberd blade would still peck into him — yet with a slight tilt and twist of the longsword, the halberd blade that should have pierced him missed its mark.

Meanwhile, the sword in his hand had already pierced the throat of the halberd-wielding figure.

Extreme focus sharpened his reactions.

"One, two, three, five..."

Blade after blade, Du Chengfeng took down those humanoid forms of Evil Qi one by one, never pausing his sword and quite efficiently — but even so, this repetitive slaughter remained tedious, even akin to monotonous and mechanical labor.

But Du Chengfeng persisted, unwavering.

This wasn’t even about determination, simply because his extreme focus made him forget the passage of time.

At least for now, time didn’t matter to him.

"Monster..."

Even the halberd-wielding figure couldn’t help but swear as it watched Du Chengfeng’s ongoing slaughter.

"Does this even count as human? Is this really still a person?"

"Why are you hurling abuse?"

As he said this, Du Chengfeng slashed through another Evil Qi humanoid’s helmet.

Another Evil Qi humanoid completely dissipated, failing to manifest again.

This was the second one. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Well done!"

Each successful experience only bolstered Du Chengfeng’s confidence.

"Come!"

Du Chengfeng beckoned; from afar, the figure carrying a spear and wielding a sword transformed once again into a great knife, falling into Du Chengfeng’s hand.

And the brawny scholar reverted into the form of a Bladeless Sword, falling into Du Chengfeng’s embrace, ready for use at any moment.

With a sword in his right hand and a knife in his left, Du Chengfeng’s efficiency in slaughter doubled instantly.

Du Chengfeng didn’t know where he was or what state he was in currently. He only knew if he could eliminate all these Evil Qi humanoids, everything would be alright.