Chapter 11: Black Blade
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
Deep into the night, silence cloaked the entire city.
Lin Ze, clutching his Tang Blade, sprinted alone along the dark, deserted streets.
With his physical abilities greatly enhanced, he reached the hospital in less than a third of the usual time.
The Martial Dao True Stele still stood firmly in the center of the courtyard.
Approaching it, Lin Ze fixed his gaze on the inscriptions, finally discerning the text on the second line.
Black Blade.
“That sounds like a blade technique or sword art,” he mused aloud, reaching out to touch the second line of text.
In an instant, a familiar surge of information flooded his mind.
As expected, this technique named Black Blade was indeed a blade art—and more than that, it was a True Qi Realm Martial Art, a method only cultivable by martial artists!
True Qi Realm martial artists, having successfully established a new human energy circulation system, operated within an incomplete framework.
To ascend to higher levels, they needed to refine this system by breaking through invisible barriers within their bodies, expanding the circulation system to reach more intricate areas.
These barriers were known as apertures.
The process of cultivating True Qi involved unlocking these apertures one by one.
The True Qi Realm was divided into Nine Layers, with every nine apertures constituting one layer of cultivation.
Once all eighty-one apertures were unlocked, one could achieve True Qi Perfection and attempt to break through to even higher realms.
As someone newly advanced, Lin Ze had yet to unlock any apertures, placing him in the First Layer of the True Qi Realm.
“True Qi Realm martial arts aren’t just methods for combat—they also strengthen True Qi during cultivation,” Lin Ze realized.
While practicing martial techniques, one harnessed the energy of the heavens and earth to temper the body and enhance True Qi. When the True Qi became sufficiently robust, it could be used to breach apertures.
Each aperture successfully unlocked would not only enhance physical strength but also improve the quality and recovery speed of True Qi.
Having digested the information about True Qi cultivation, Lin Ze turned his focus to the content of the Black Blade technique.
The Black Blade emphasized explosive power in the arms, favoring a domineering, ferocious approach. It prioritized overwhelming momentum and grand, sweeping strikes.
Of note was that all Martial Dao Techniques, including the True Essence Art, required special materials from Monstrous Beasts as supplementary resources during cultivation.
The Black Blade was no exception.
Its cultivation necessitated Monstrous Beast Meat and Black-Armored Python Skin.
Indeed, the same Black-Armored Python Lin Ze had encountered days ago, locked in combat with the Frost Blade Leopard over prey.
Lin Ze couldn’t help but marvel.
“Using Monstrous Beast materials as aids for cultivation… this is completely different from how I imagined martial arts techniques would work.”
[Perhaps the simultaneous appearance of Monstrous Beasts and the Martial Dao True Steles in this world isn’t a coincidence,] he speculated but quickly put the thought aside to focus on the technique.
“Too bad I can’t start cultivating the Black Blade right now. Oh well, I might as well use the Black-Armored Python as practice to test my combat strength.”
Resolute in his decision, Lin Ze headed toward the intersection from memory, ready to hunt the Black-Armored Python.
Yet, upon arrival, he found nothing but scattered bones.
“The Black-Armored Python hunted here. Its nest must be nearby.”
Gripping the Tang Blade, Lin Ze meticulously searched the area. He scoured every corner within a 400-500 meter radius, including the interiors of buildings, but found no trace.
Noticing it was nearly four o’clock—about an hour before his Child of Eternal Night ability would fade—Lin Ze decided to retreat and return tomorrow night to resume the search.
Just then, a familiar cry echoed from not far away.
“Gu.”
Lin Ze turned toward the sound, spotting a sheep’s skull-topped head peeking from around a corner, its large, round eyes fixed intently on him.
Lin Ze paused, momentarily surprised to encounter a Sheep-Bone Monster so soon.
“Gu!”
The Sheep-Bone Monster skipped over excitedly, flailing its limbs and chattering as if delighted to see Lin Ze again.
Lin Ze chuckled softly, amused by the carefree nature of the little creature.
“Gu?” The Sheep-Bone Monster tugged on Lin Ze’s pant leg, gazing up at him with wide, expectant eyes.
Strangely, Lin Ze could understand its meaning. Smiling, he replied, “I’m looking for a Monstrous Beast.”
“Gu?”
“An Black-Armored Python—a massive snake covered in black scales.”
“Gu!”
The Sheep-Bone Monster pointed to the northwest.
Lin Ze paused, stunned. He hadn’t expected the little creature to know the location of the Black-Armored Python.
As the realization sank in, Lin Ze’s expression lit up with joy. His gaze turned to the Sheep-Bone Monster with anticipation.
“Little one, can you lead the way?”
“Gu.”
The Sheep-Bone Monster nodded, climbing up Lin Ze’s pant leg with agile movements. It perched on his shoulder and pointed forward.
Without hesitation, Lin Ze sprinted in the direction indicated by the little creature.
Guided by the Sheep-Bone Monster, Lin Ze traversed several streets and eventually arrived at the entrance of Baiyun Forest Park.
“The Black-Armored Python is in here?”
“Gu.”
“By the way, how do you know it’s here?”
“Gu.”
Through a mix of gestures and guesses, Lin Ze pieced together the story. It turned out that the Sheep-Bone Monster had once lost a clone to the Black-Armored Python in this park and had never forgotten it.
“Perfect. I’ll avenge you. For now, stay to the side to avoid getting caught in the fight.”
Lin Ze gently lifted the Sheep-Bone Monster from his shoulder and placed it on the ground, patting its head.
The creature obediently moved a safe distance away, watching Lin Ze with a simple-minded expression as he stepped into the forest park.
Baiyun Forest Park, a renowned green space in Weifeng City, was known for its high forest coverage. It boasted expansive areas of primary and secondary forests, with fresh air and cooler temperatures. It made perfect sense for the Black-Armored Python to choose this as its lair.
As Lin Ze walked along the tree-lined paths, the dense canopy overhead filtered the moonlight, casting an eerie gloom. The atmosphere carried a strange chill.
Lin Ze extended his senses, focusing intently on his surroundings.
The enhanced perception from his ascension to Martial Artist, combined with the acute senses unique to the Vampire race, brought his awareness to a razor-sharp level.
It wasn’t long before he sensed a cold, menacing presence lurking about a hundred meters to his left.
As his eyes fixed on the spot, an equally malicious gaze locked onto him. His skin prickled, as if a serpent had slithered across it.
Lin Ze tightened his grip on the hilt of his Tang Blade, his gaze sharp as he stared in the direction of the threat.
Hisssss!
Realizing it had been exposed, the creature abandoned its concealment. Amid the rustling of foliage, a massive, menacing Black-Armored Python slithered out from between the trees.
Its cold, vertical pupils fixed on Lin Ze, its forked tongue flicking in and out with a hiss.
The creature’s primal instincts warned it that this human was unlike the usual prey that fled or screamed. It sensed danger emanating from Lin Ze.
For over ten seconds, the man and beast stared each other down. Then, as if on cue, both launched their attacks simultaneously.
The Black-Armored Python coiled its body like a spring and shot forward with lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, it was upon Lin Ze, its gaping maw revealing sharp fangs poised to strike.
But what awaited it was a dazzling flash of blade light!
Clang!
The sharp clash of metal echoed as sparks flew.
Lin Ze’s blade cut through the scales on the python’s head, leaving a deep, bleeding wound.
The beast recoiled with a pained howl, its forked tongue flicking furiously.
Seeing this, Lin Ze’s heart surged with hope.
The true energy of a Martial Artist not only reinforced the body but could also be channeled into weapons, enhancing their sharpness and durability.
He had witnessed the toughness of the python’s scales before. Even the claws of a Savage-Type Frost Blade Leopard struggled to breach them. Thus, he had poured all his strength into the attack.
Fortunately, his true energy did not disappoint. The Tang Blade, bolstered by his power, was capable of breaking through the beast’s defenses. Without this edge, the battle would have been far more arduous.