Chapter 62: The Shocking Sight
Chapter 62: The Shocking Sight
A faint, ethereal light floated deep within the puppet’s core. The Five-Tone Viscera began to hum, producing an otherworldly, immortal melody that lingered in the air without ceasing!
The five cyan-colored musical notes — Gong, Shang, Jue, Zhi, and Yu — soared forth. They resembled brilliant runes and deep, mysterious talismans. Principles intertwined, and light cascaded, swirling and flowing around the body of the Reverse Halberd, emanating a vast and mighty aura.
A profound and powerful force emanated from the music and the notes. It was like the pure sound of jade, clear and resonant, yet as profound and unfathomable as a deep spring or pristine snow. It was staggering and deafening!
A hazy cyan radiance descended, swirling and enveloping the puppet, bathing and illuminating it, as if adding a vast, luminous halo to its metal frame!
In the pupils of the Reverse Halberd, a faint cyan glint flashed, as if it were alive.
Li Yi and the Reverse Halberd shared a mental resonance. The melody echoed in his ears, and a cyan faint light gathered in his own eyes as well. His spiritual energy surged dramatically.
“What… what is this?” Chen Deng shot to his feet. The chair tipped over from his momentum and knocked into a table, creating a mess. “This is too miraculous!”
He was a Level 4 Puppeteer and considered himself knowledgeable, yet he couldn’t comprehend the scene before him at all. In his heart, he was utterly shocked.
Lu Yin, though not as impulsive as Chen Deng, also lost his composure. The teacup in his hand trembled, spilling tea.
“Is it… some kind of function module?” The Iron Mask found it hard to confirm and spoke uncertainly.
“Interesting, quite interesting…” Qin Yue saw a clue. A meaningful smile appeared on his lips. “It is indeed a function module, but it’s completely different from ordinary ones. It seems… to be mimicking a ‘Divine Hymn.'”
“Divine Hymn?” Upon hearing this, Lu Yin and the others shuddered slightly. “A hymn of the gods?”
A Divine Hymn was a grand melody born from the resonance of divine majesty and cosmic laws when a deity manifested. It contained the power of rules.
Different deities’ Divine Hymns had different effects, mostly akin to various enhancement magics, profound and endless.
“This melody, as far as I can see, has effects like stimulating the steel furnace, accelerating Arcane Energy flow, boosting spirit, and raising morale,” Qin Yue nodded. “I don’t know if it’s the Western Queen Mother’s ‘Nine Spirits Sublime Sacred Tune’ or the Eastern Peak Emperor’s ‘Song of the Great Mountain’s Mighty Aura’? Never mind, I’m no Divine Attendant. I can’t tell when it comes to these divine matters.”
Of course, if Bai Yun were present, she would recognize that this spectacle bore a striking resemblance to the time when “The Master of Melody,” Kui, descended.
“I must inform Master! A talent like this comes once in a century!” Chen Deng’s hesitation vanished completely. His eyes shone with fanatical fervor as he activated the talisman seal in his hand.
“Draw Sword!”
With Li Yi’s soft shout, the Reverse Halberd raised its sword before itself. Arcane Energy shot forth, merging with the drifting cyan light and coalescing on the sword’s edge, transforming into a cold, heavy sword aura that floated and shimmered continuously!
“Sword aura? Someone exclaimed in shock. “Wasn’t that a function only available to Level 2 puppets?”
But there was no time for commentary. The battle was about to erupt!
“Thrust!” Li Yi roared again.
Whoosh!
The Reverse Halberd’s figure shot out like cold lightning!
It was described as “dashing” because its steps were small and rapid, not large strides forward. It moved within a confined space, advancing, retreating, shifting left and right.
But its footwork was bizarre and unpredictable—suddenly to the left, abruptly to the right. The heavy steel puppet moved with a ghostly lightness.
This was precisely the Thousandfold Strategy!
Such intricate and varied footwork naturally couldn’t rely on “Wind Pulse” for propulsion. But at this moment, the Reverse Halberd’s speed had increased by at least thirty percent, on par with the Tide-Severer.
A sword carrying light, like a thunderbolt traveling through the night, stabbed straight at the core in the Tide-Severer’s chest.
“Li Yi!” Lu Tao let out a resentful cry.
The charging of “Nine Severing Tides” was nearly complete, but with a vital point targeted, he had to interrupt the energy gathering and swing his anchor horizontally.
Sword slash!
Anchor chop!
Two weapons boiling with arcane light collided heavily. After separating briefly, several more fierce clashes followed!
Clang! Clang! The clear ringing sounds continued incessantly. Energy rays scattered everywhere, and the dispersed glow of Arcane Energy illuminated faces frozen in astonishment.
“Am I seeing things…?”
“What… what is happening?”
Everyone was stunned.
During the use of Thousandfold Strategy, the figure changed erratically, making it hard to discern specifics. But now, during the exchange, they shockingly realized that under the influence of the floating cyan light, the Reverse Halberd subtly possessed the strength to stand toe-to-toe with the Tide-Severer. Whether in speed or power, it was not at a disadvantage at all!
“My goodness! What is this music?”
“It’s too miraculous!”
To Lu Tao, these exclamations of amazement were especially grating, striking straight at his heart.
“I’ll finish you off!”
With a lion-like roar, the steel furnace operated beyond its limits. Blue scales stood erect all over the Tide-Severer’s body. Frenzied Arcane Energy, like vast rolling waves, surged out.
As if transforming into an envoy of the tide, its movements became wide and forceful. Blue light surged on the giant anchor, each strike carrying the momentum to move mountains and overturn seas!
And then, the Reverse Halberd did something astonishing again.
It twisted its body, and the “Wind Pulse” on its back erupted. A fierce gale howled. It had no demeanor of a master; it turned and fled in a full-speed sprint.
“Uh…”
The entire audience gaped. Just as someone was about to seize the chance to criticize, someone else quietly spoke up.
“Look at the time! Only ten breaths left!”
Upon hearing this, everyone’s expressions changed drastically. Could it be… this Reverse Halberd was going to win?
“Ten!”
The Tide-Severer stepped forward. After a clash of weapons, the Reverse Halberd used the force to bounce away. “Wind Pulse” erupted again, creating more distance.
“Nine!”
The Reverse Halberd’s arm was grazed, but the wound was shallow. With a few quick, shuffling steps, it retreated erratically like a ghost.
“Eight!”
More and more people joined the countdown. The voices became a roaring tide.
Everyone wanted to witness this unbelievable moment with their own eyes!
A Level 1 puppet was actually defying the difference in tier, holding out for a full minute against a Level 2 puppet!
“Seven!”
This countdown sounded like a death knell to Lu Tao, throwing him into disarray. Anxiety and frustration gnawed at him.
His eyes turned crimson. He made a decision that was absolutely the worst possible move!
“Nine Severing Tides!”
The giant anchor was raised high. The sound of roaring seas filled the air. Frenzied Arcane Energy whirled and contracted, gathering once more towards the giant anchor in his hand.
This move had already been proven ineffective. Using it again clearly showed he was enraged and had lost his reason.
“Perfect timing!”
A cold smile touched Li Yi’s lips, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
The Reverse Halberd lunged forward with a swift step, its figure like a galloping unicorn. The long sword thrust forward, aiming straight for the opponent’s chest.
Helplessly, the Tide-Severer once again had to swing its anchor back, blocking its chest.
At that moment, its movements suddenly stalled.
Forcing the interruption of a combat technique twice in a row had disrupted its Arcane Energy flow. This situation was quite similar to a human martial artist experiencing disrupted breath control.
“Kill!”
Li Yi naturally wouldn’t let such a perfect opportunity slip. With a fierce cry, the Reverse Halberd leaped into the air. The massive sword came down in a powerful overhead slash!
Its form resembled a barbarian combat technique—the Jumping Overhead Chop!
Thud!
Amidst countless shocked gazes, under the dull impact, the Tide-Severer staggered back several steps and fell onto its back.
At that very moment, the time had just run out.
“Oh my god! Is this Reverse Halberd defying the heavens?”
“So strong! I take back my words! I don’t want that Thunder-Grasper anymore! I want this Reverse Halberd!”
More people began to change their stance.
It wasn’t surprising. The scene before their eyes was simply too shocking and earth-shattering!
Everyone thought surviving a minute was already near miraculous. Yet the Reverse Halberd actually knocked down the Level 2 Tide-Severer at the very last moment!
Although the Tide-Severer’s own actions contributed, the fact remained: a Level 1 puppet had knocked down a Level 2 puppet.
The Five-Tone Viscera gradually quieted. Darkness swam before Li Yi’s eyes, and his knees buckled. The sharp-eyed Zhao Qin caught him. Zhao Xu and the others finally understood and hurried over to support him.
Li Yi’s face was pale. He squinted his eyes and gave a wry smile.
Using his spirit to control the steel puppet was already a great strain. Executing the Thousandfold Strategy was even more difficult than ascending to the heavens! It was only under the spiritual enhancement of the Five-Tone Viscera that he managed it.
That final Jumping Overhead Chop had exhausted the last trace of Li Yi’s spiritual energy.
“I lost?” Amidst the cheers filling the arena, Lu Tao’s face was dark. Resentment and malice burned within him, devouring his reason. “I didn’t lose! Who said I lost?”
With a furious roar, the Tide-Severer stepped on tidal energy, tearing through the air in a single stride, charging towards the figure basking in applause. The giant anchor hacked down madly!
“Damned bastard, have you no shame…?”
Li Yi cursed. Exhausted and drained dry, how could he possibly control the Reverse Halberd to dodge now?
Thud!
Amidst another dull, heavy sound, the Tide-Severer was forced back several steps. A tough, mountain-patterned steel puppet stood between the two.
A Level 4 puppet—the Mountain-Cleaver!
“The outcome is decided. There’s no need to continue fighting…” Chen Deng’s voice rang out. “I’ve already notified my teacher. He is very interested in this Reverse Halberd.”
What? Fan Wen, the treasure of Dawn Cliff, a Level 7 Puppeteer, was going to personally come to see this puppet?