Chapter 227: The Specter
Chapter 227: The Specter
Wraiths were among the lowest rank of the undead.
Their twisted faces, hollow eyes, and waving claws were their most typical features.
They were mostly translucent white phantoms floating just above the ground, flying around without a sound.
But when a Wraith attacked, it usually let out a harsh shriek, which felt extremely unpleasant.
Ordinary weapons couldn’t harm a Wraith at all, not even firearms.
However, under Gao Jing’s Flame Blade, the Wraiths seemed incredibly fragile, vanishing with a single touch.
They seemed easy to kill, but there were far too many of them.
Like flies drawn to blood, the Wraiths shrieked as they poured from deep within the mist, endlessly charging toward Gao Jing.
Even though dozens of Tears of the Undead already littered the ground, they remained persistent.
It seemed they held some deep hatred toward Gao Jing!
Luckily, none of the skeletons hiding underground surfaced in this area.
Otherwise, his difficulty would have been much higher.
Even so, at one point, up to thirty or forty Wraiths surrounded him from the front and both sides!
This scene was undoubtedly terrifying, yet Gao Jing stood firm, unafraid.
Focusing intensely, he channeled the Battle Qi stored in his Crimson Python Rune. He directed it constantly into both his arms, maintaining the physical form of his Flame Blades as he slashed and cut at the undead lunging at him.
At first, Gao Jing wasn’t very used to using dual blades in combat. The Seven Enemy-Slaying Blades weren’t made for dual-wielding, so during real fights, he occasionally struggled to coordinate, leaving weak spots.
A few times, he almost missed his targets, letting Wraiths get close!
So he used his right arm blade as the main weapon, sweeping it in wide arcs against the Wraiths. His left arm blade served as a backup, specifically filling gaps and blocking attacks.
This tactic proved highly effective. With one blade focused on offense and the other on defense, Gao Jing kept the tide of Wraiths firmly held back more than a meter away.
As time passed, Gao Jing became increasingly proficient with the dual blades.
Inspirations flashed frequently in his mind, helping him smoothly execute clever combinations.
The long blade cut through the air, swirling with intense flames. Two Wraiths were sliced at the waist, turning to ash immediately and melting into the mist.
Using the momentum from that wide sweep, Gao Jing suddenly spun where he stood and swung his left-handed blade.
Instantly destroying a third Wraith!
A life-or-death fight was undoubtedly the best way to improve strength. However hard he trained normally, he couldn’t unleash such sharp and swift dual-blade combos.
Gao Jing swung his blades again. The Wraiths’ offensive suddenly faltered!
No new Wraiths immediately rushed forward to replace them.
Seizing the chance, Gao Jing took a long breath.
He had been holding his ground here for over ten minutes, losing count of how many Wraiths he’d destroyed.
It felt satisfyingly intense, honing his Combat Technique and will.
But his stamina and Battle Qi were running very low!
As a Totem Combat Art, the Flame Blade was impressively powerful.
After mastering it, Gao Jing trained relentlessly and merged it with his Seven Enemy-Slaying Blades.
This significantly enhanced the practical power of this Combat Technique.
But shaping and maintaining the Flame Blade demanded the burning of Battle Qi.
And Gao Jing was using dual blades!
By now, the Battle Qi stored in his Crimson Python Rune was nearly exhausted. He was forced to start converting Totemic Power into Battle Qi to avoid running out of energy mid-fight.
To conserve Battle Qi further, he hadn’t maintained his Battle Armor, channelling all power into his Flame Blades.
This strategy was extreme, like walking a tightrope, but it was a necessary choice.
Otherwise, he couldn’t have held out this long.
But Gao Jing knew all too well: if the Wraiths kept coming endlessly, he’d have to consider breaking through.
Even though he could retreat to the Primary World at any time to recover and then return – essentially an infinite source of energy – he knew defenses would eventually fail. He couldn’t fight forever here.
Crucially, only the weakest Wraiths were attacking so far. Who could guarantee stronger undead wouldn’t eventually appear?
However, right then, the white Wraiths ahead suddenly retreated like a receding tide, vanishing swiftly into the mist.
Instead of feeling relieved or victorious, a chill ran through Gao Jing.
Goosebumps covered his skin instantly, and a terrifying feeling overwhelmed him.
He sensed immense malice and approaching danger!
Taking a deep breath, Gao Jing immediately conjured his Guardian Battle Armor.
Next moment, a massive, shadowy figure materialized from the mist. The negative energy in the surrounding air intensified sharply!
The temperature plummeted; frost even formed patches on the ground under Gao Jing’s feet.
Even protected by his Battle Armor and fortified by the Spiritual Energy potion inside him, he felt a bone-deep, soul-chilling cold.
The approaching shadow was almost three meters tall.
It resembled a Shaman, shrouded completely in a black robe. Two violet flames ignited eerily where its face should be. Its right hand clutched a long, dark scythe.
A Specter!
A stronger undead had truly appeared!
Gao Jing recalled Kui Bao’s words: though a Specter was only one rank above a Wraith, the gap between them was like a Totem Warrior versus an ordinary warrior. It couldn’t be underestimated.
Besides, Specters came in many forms, each possessing strange abilities.
Many Adventurers exploring the Ruined City had died facing Specters.
Gao Jing didn’t know the name of this Specter looming like death, but its threat felt bone-deep real!
Though it hadn’t attacked yet, simply looking at it caused stinging pain in Gao Jing’s eyes. A heavy darkness seemed to blanket his mind.
His breathing grew labored. A strange, bewildering voice whispered in his ears:
Give up resistance. Kneel. Submit. Find peace!
Gao Jing’s consciousness wavered.
But then, the Bronze Anchor hanging on his chest suddenly emitted a dazzling bright light.
He snapped back to full awareness instantly.
Instantly, he realized the black Specter had closed the distance to within two meters, its dark scythe already raised high!
DAMN!
Understanding he’d almost fallen for its trick ignited blazing fury and fighting spirit in Gao Jing.
His blood boiled fiercely inside him; Battle Qi surged powerfully. The Specter’s mental influence vanished completely!
“Go to hell!”
Gao Jing roared, leaping into the air.
Clenching his fists together, his two Flaming Longblades instantly merged into one superheated blade. He brought it down in a mighty stroke aimed straight at the Specter.
This strike concentrated all of Gao Jing’s remaining power. The flames swirling around the blade glowed crimson to the extreme, their searing heat scattering the dark energies nearby. Its bright fire even pushed back the surrounding mist!
Light flooded the Specter’s dark, void-like visage.
Its violet facial flames suddenly contracted violently, as if startled into terror. Its form recoiled backward at high speed.
The raised scythe snapped back defensively!