Chapter 179: Shi Ji’s Blade

Blade underestimated Shi Ji once, twice, and thrice, and here he was, underestimating him yet again.

This repeated underestimation had landed him in his current predicament, caught off guard and suffering for it.

Shi Ji approached Blade slowly, his sword held lightly in his hand. As he casually waved it around, it almost seemed as if he might accidentally drop it at any moment. But despite the appearance of carelessness, his movements were steady and natural—effortless and relaxed.

Blade, on the other hand, was crouched on the ground. He looked disheveled. His whole appearance was a mess, from his hair to his torn and dirt-covered clothes. Even his prized twin blades, which he took such pride in, were now covered in dust.

Unlike Shi Ji, Blade was gripping his swords tightly, too afraid to loosen his hold.

Just moments earlier, he had felt something he hadn’t experienced in a long time–fear.

Shi Ji had appeared behind him in an instant, leaving no time to react. That speed… it was truly terrifying. And if Shi Ji had swung a blade instead of landing a kick, what would have happened?

Though Blade didn’t voice it, he had already accepted in his heart that he had once again underestimated Shi Ji. And this time, he realized Shi Ji’s strength went far beyond what he had initially thought.

Rising to his feet, Blade gave a light flick of his swords, clearing the dust that had gathered on them. Now, both blades gleamed once more, sharp and deadly.

“So, you’ve still got some strength left. Looks like I underestimated you again,” Blade admitted, his previous doubts melting away. 

Confidence once again filled his expression.

“Well then, I suppose I should start taking this seriously.”

As Blade spoke, his twin blades crossed and slashed forward with a powerful sweep.

In the wake of that strike, a massive cyclone of energy instantly formed, hurtling towards Shi Ji with immense force.

When Blade said he was going to get serious, he meant it.

The moment the cyclone was unleashed, he kicked off the ground, trailing behind it, charging towards Shi Ji with full force. His intention was clear: to launch a decisive strike while Shi Ji was busy fending off the cyclone. This strategy was one of his go-to moves.

The cyclone and Blade closed in on Shi Ji. Their combined force was overwhelming and filled with arrogance.

But Shi Ji just smiled. A light, almost carefree smile spread across his face, as if he found the entire situation amusing.

With a casual flick of his hand, Shi Ji’s long blade cut through the air, unleashing his own cyclone. However, unlike Blade’s attack, Shi Ji’s cyclone was much larger—several times bigger.

Blade was shocked! This wasn’t at all what he had imagined.

The pressure before him intensified as his own cyclone disintegrated in an instant upon clashing with Shi Ji’s much larger one.

His heart tightened. Facing an attack like this head-on was suicide. It would be better to dodge, but there was no time. No space to evade.

Left with no other choice, Blade swung his swords again. He released another cyclone to counter Shi Ji’s incoming wave.

The moment the two forces collided, the air churned violently. Blade’s face was tense, and his hands trembled slightly after the clash. Only someone who experienced it firsthand could understand the sheer strength behind Shi Ji’s attack.

As the dust and energy finally settled, Blade’s mind raced. He quickly thought of Shi Ji. But, to his surprise, Shi Ji was nowhere to be seen. 

Suddenly, the now-familiar sensation of pressure crept up behind him.

!!!

Blade was suddenly alarmed. Without thinking, he spun around, both swords slashing in a powerful arc. In that swift motion, two blades of energy shot out. The speed was there. The precision was perfect. The strength was undeniable. But…

But when he turned, there was nothing—just empty space.

“What the…” Blade gasped in disbelief.

“Over here,” a voice rang out from behind him.

Blade twisted his body again, launching a desperate slash behind him.

Clang!

A loud clash echoed as sparks flew in all directions.

Shi Ji had effortlessly blocked the attack, his expression calm and unbothered.

“Blade, you really are the type who never learns, aren’t you?” Shi Ji’s tone carried a hint of mockery. “You keep making the same mistakes. You always act like you’re above everyone, look down on those who don’t seek the spotlight. And you always underestimate them. If I hadn’t held back just now, do you realize what would’ve happened to you? Go back and train properly, will you?”

His last words were laced with severity, a clear warning. But just as he finished speaking, Blade’s other sword came swinging in, trying to catch him off guard.

Clang!

Shi Ji blocked it with ease.

Then, without hesitation, Shi Ji retaliated, his blade slicing through the air with swift precision.

Blade’s face darkened. From the moment the fight began, he was being completely overpowered. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he realized the vast difference in their strength. Shi Ji’s overwhelming power made it hard for him to even catch his breath.

The deadlock didn’t last long. Shi Ji pulled back momentarily, only to launch a barrage of fierce attacks.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The relentless clashing of blades filled the air, each strike more intense than the last. Energy waves surged as sparks flew, and the ground beneath them cracked under the force of their battle. Dust clouds rose, filling the chaotic battlefield.

Blade’s mind raced in disbelief.

“How… how is this happening?”

The current situation kept Blade on the defensive. Every strike he made was precisely intercepted—not because he could match Shi Ji’s speed, but because Shi Ji was still so fast that every slash landed perfectly on Blade’s dual blades.

In this one-sided battle, Blade couldn’t find even the slightest opening to shift the momentum in his favor.

Step by step, he was forced to retreat. Whether he dodged, leaped back, or tried to reposition himself, Shi Ji was always right there, relentlessly pressing the attack. Every strike was swift. Every slash was sharp as if Shi Ji had endless reserves of strength.

Each time their blades met, Blade’s hands stung with a painful numbness. A clear sign of the overwhelming force behind Shi Ji’s attacks.

Different classes in the hero system come with distinct characteristics. Among them, the Chariot class was known for its powerful offensive capabilities, often wielding swords or blades to maximize their impact. Some, like Lin Xinyan, might use other weapons like spears, but for Blade, twin blades were his specialty.

And yet, despite being a renowned S-rank hero, a master of his craft, Blade found himself utterly overwhelmed by this younger, lesser-known opponent. He was being completely dominated, unable to mount any kind of counterattack.

Flashes of his past victories raced through Blade’s mind. Moments where he had triumphed, basking in the glory of his strength. But now, those memories felt hollow, shattered like a mirror dropped to the ground, reflecting nothing but broken pieces of his former self.

Suddenly, Blade recalled the moment from his first encounter with Shi Ji. Back then, he had laughed and said Shi Ji was stubborn, not too bright. He had a solid foundation but lacked any real attack techniques. Every strike could be easily blocked.

But now, in this moment, Blade finally understood. It wasn’t that Shi Ji was brainless back then—it was Blade who was the fool. Every one of Shi Ji’s attacks had actually been aimed at his blade. And now, it was the same.

His willpower worn down, Blade no longer had much fight left in him.

Just then, Shi Ji suddenly exerted strength. With a flick of his long blade, he sent Blade, along with his swords, flying through the air. Blade crashed into a nearby trash can and didn’t get up for a long time.