Chapter 53: Slicing the Swiftstep

“Qi Brother, we meet again.”

Ji Xinghuo stepped into the living room, his expressionless face suddenly smiling, but his eyes were icy cold.

The Star Realm is beyond law.

Even though Olympia is under international jurisdiction, the lack of technological monitoring and supernatural abilities of extrahumans make criminal activities rampant.

In the Star Realm, one’s own kind is always the greatest source of danger.

Attacks from fellow beings are even more fearsome than those from monsters.

Because human intentions are unfathomable.

Before entering the Star Realm, Ji Xinghuo had seen many cases online—backstabbing, betrayal among teammates, ambushes by extrahumans from enemy nations. He was mentally prepared and always cautious, yet he eventually encountered it.

He wasn’t angry; he just wanted to eliminate the troublemaker.

Having confirmed no one was approaching using magnetic field sensing, Ji Xinghuo made his presence known as the courtyard was safe.

His reluctance to ambush was due to him wanting to personally assess the other two individuals in the room. Their magnetic field strength and Aether reaction were within normal limits.

The man was a high-level extrahuman, his eyes wild like a beast, body robust, wearing only a vest, and unarmed.

The woman leaned against him, likely a couple.

Her power was the weakest among the trio, a mid-level extrahuman. Her long hair slightly gleamed, her eyes sparkled with fiery light, exuding warmth but not much threat.

Ji Xinghuo made his judgment instantly.

The couple’s professions were a Beastman and Star Torchbearer.

The former relied on transforming into beasts for combat, while the latter was a supportive role with limited attack capabilities.

Beastman, Star Torchbearer!

The greatest threat was still Qi Zhaofeng. Not only was he from a well-rounded career template, but he was also a rare martial artist of the ninth rank with rich combat experience, equipped with the best gear.

“You were tracking me?”

Qi Zhaofeng eyed Ji Xinghuo intensely and signaled the couple to spread out left and right.

Ji Xinghuo, seemingly oblivious to the couple’s encirclement, asked, “I don’t understand, Brother Qi. Do I appear weak to you, that you would target me?”

“You are not weak, but I am stronger. You’re just unlucky to have encountered me,” Qi Zhaofeng dropped his pretense, confirming Ji Xinghuo was alone, relaxed, and scoffed, “Plus, you’re naive. Like a fat lamb walking right to my door.”

While speaking, Qi Zhaofeng drew his alloy long sword.

His gaze settled on Ji Xinghuo’s Leichi, unabashedly covetous, and nodded, “Nice blade, but you don’t deserve it.”

A Supernatural two-star weapon, much better than his own one-star long sword.

“No one suits this blade better than me,” Ji Xinghuo smiled, “There’s a saying you might have heard, Brother Qi: The best hunters often appear as prey.”

“Just you?”

Qi Zhaofeng sneered, “You don’t think that defeating me a few times in the dojo qualifies you as my opponent? My ninth martial rank was earned through bloodshed, never once going all out at the dojo.”

His face was full of confidence.

“Coincidentally, so did I,” Ji Xinghuo spoke softly.

Qi Zhaofeng made no reply, as he attacked. In an instant, he rushed at Ji Xinghuo, as quick as lightning.

Flash Step!

The Beastman, a profession known for its speed, excels in long sprints and close-range movements, boasting the fastest attack rate.

Sometimes, a Beastman settles a fight in the blink of an eye, leaving the opponent with no time to react.

There is no defense against extreme speed in martial arts!

Qi Zhaofeng’s sole stroke of the sword split the coffee table and chairs in half between them, the blade thrusting straight at Ji Xinghuo’s face, stopping mere inches from his nose.

His sword, a one-star Supernatural weapon, had an acceleration effect when swung.

As Qi Zhaofeng struck, Ji Xinghuo moved too.

His speed was slower than Qi Zhaofeng’s, a barely visible circle of light flickering in his right pupil as if he had foreseen the attack. He shifted his feet, turning his body to the left in perfect timing, dodging the sword which grazed past him.

Electricity surged over Ji Xinghuo’s skin, speed increased, he moved past the long sword to the female extrahuman on his left.

One step, two steps…

On his third step, he suddenly raised his Leichi to block behind.

Clang!

This strike, as if with eyes on the back of his head, accurately parried Qi Zhaofeng’s pursuing sword—electricity instantly transferring to the sword, causing a numbing shock to Qi, who instinctively activated “Mystic Step” to increase the distance, avoiding Ji Xinghuo’s counterattack.

However, Ji Xinghuo didn’t even care about Qi Zhaofeng.

He was only two steps away from the female extrahuman, striding forward, blade flickering.

The woman was a Star Torchbearer.

Her primary role was supportive—”Star Flame of Light” infused teammates with star power for faster recovery, “Fervor” and “Repulsion Field” could ward off some mind attacks, enhancing strength and speed, “Purifying Torch” dispelled negative states.

Her sole attack was “Minor Meteor.”

She had already conjured a string of high-temperature fire beads in her hand as Qi Zhaofeng struck, ready to throw at the enemy.

But Ji Xinghuo had already charged at her.

Leichi fell, slicing through her right arm like cutting through tofu, the unthrown Minor Meteor instantly extinguished with a painful cry.

“Ah!”

Ji Xinghuo’s blade continued its trajectory, slicing through her thigh, then sweeping past her body, his empty left hand pushing forward impulsively.

Severely injured, the Star Torchbearer couldn’t resist, her body flying forward.

Her head crashed into a massive bear’s mouth, crunching sound ensuing as her cranium crumbled, her scream abruptly ceasing.

The killer was a standing giant bear, over two and a half meters tall, with a small mountain-like body covered in black fur, claws sharp as knives, a human-like outline faintly visible—eyes bearing both the ferocity of a beast and the intellect of a human.

It was a “Starry Night Giant Bear,” transformed from a Beastman.

This bear-like creature possessed keen hearing and smell, strong power, tough flesh defense, capable of entering a berserk state increasing lethality, also seeing in dim light, making it highly versatile in a team, fulfilling multiple roles.

“No…”

The giant bear quickly spat out the woman, muttering unclear words.

His original target was Ji Xinghuo, unexpectedly his own beloved ended up in his mouth, instantly killing her with a single bite.

Accidentally killing his beloved and his own teammate left the Beastman utterly stunned.

His mind went blank, momentarily frozen.

“Move!”

Qi Zhaofeng shouted, but it was already too late.

When the Beastman came to his senses, he saw a flash of lightning slice from the side, the world spinning, his viewpoint hitting the ground as consciousness faded, the last image being a headless, blood-spraying giant bear and the woman with her head exploded beside.

“Her face looks so familiar…”

Bang!

The headless giant bear reverted to human form, slowly collapsing, revealing Ji Xinghuo behind.

Qi Zhaofeng’s eyes bulged with rage, his minor mistake costing him two teammates, sending chills down his spine. Ji Xinghuo’s strength far exceeded expectations.

“Indeed, it’s a fine blade!”

He took a deep breath, eyeing the Leichi in Ji Xinghuo’s hand with dread, “Even the Starry Night Giant Bear’s defense couldn’t withstand a single strike from you.”

With a less sharp weapon, his Beastman teammate wouldn’t have been decapitated so easily.

Ji Xinghuo remained silent.

He stepped over the Beastman’s body, advancing with blade in hand.

Lightning sparkled on Leichi’s blade, the air smelling of scorched ozone, Ji Xinghuo closing the distance between them in a breath.

Qi Zhaofeng leaped back several meters, turning to run out of the living room into the courtyard.

He was trying to escape!

Ji Xinghuo’s magnetic field erupted, activating his Gale Combat Boots, quickly catching up as Qi Zhaofeng’s figure blurred, rapidly moving back and forth in the courtyard, appearing simultaneously in multiple spots, creating a confusing effect that made it difficult to target.

This was the Mystic Step.

It allowed an extrahuman to move rapidly within a small area, evading attacks and also enabling surprise attacks.

As Ji Xinghuo stepped into the courtyard, a sword light stabbed towards his back.

He had anticipated Qi Zhaofeng’s feigned retreat, smoothly turning around, Leichi flicking upwards, sword and blade solidly colliding.

Clang!

Qi Zhaofeng stumbled back a few steps, forced back into the living room.

His eyes filled with disbelief, unable to comprehend why his Mystic Step hadn’t confused Ji Xinghuo, such a swift back attack also blocked?

Ji Xinghuo seized the opportunity to counterattack, slashing thrice.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Three powerful chops in succession, the rotating magnetic field amplifying electric arcs around the Leichi, sparks and electricity flying.

Each strike forceful and heavy, hitting the same spot on the long sword, the overwhelming power forcing Qi Zhaofeng to retreat, the blade’s electricity paralyzing his body, leaving him unable to use Flash Step, rapidly pushed back into a corner with no escape.

Qi Zhaofeng was wide open, his long sword broken in two.

Ji Xinghuo advanced, flipping the Leichi in his hand, pressing the blade against Qi Zhaofeng’s neck, pinning him against the wall.

This scene mirrored previous real combat training in the dojo.

The difference was, this was a battle of life and death.

Qi Zhaofeng’s eyes filled with horror, he hadn’t expected to die this way, despairingly shouting, “I…”

“Don’t make the same mistake in your next life.”

Ji Xinghuo exerted force on his arm, pressing the blade into Qi Zhaofeng’s neck, swiftly slicing.

Splat.

A thin line of blood appeared on Qi Zhaofeng’s neck, initially a few droplets emerging, then like a faucet turned on, blood crazily spurting out.

He clutched at his neck attempting to stem the bleeding, but couldn’t stop life ebbing away.

“You… are not… eighth rank…” Qi Zhaofeng gasped intermittently, his head lolling lifelessly.

The light in Ji Xinghuo’s eyes faded.

He looked at the bodies of Qi Zhaofeng and the other two, he himself was an eighth martial rank, but when activating Wanxiang Senluo, comparable to a martial grandmaster.

Wanxiang Senluo’s consumption of star power was immense.

Initially only lasting two to three seconds, it drew all his spirit, star power, and physical energy, now with 185 points of star power, he could sustain nearly six seconds of Wanxiang Senluo.

Six seconds of foresight, enough to slay three enemies.

That’s why he dared show himself and take action.

Ji Xinghuo wiped the Leichi on Qi Zhaofeng’s body, cleaning the blood before sheathing it, about to turn away when he noticed a ring on Qi Zhaofeng’s left hand, dense with Aether energy, clearly not ordinary jewelry.

He wrapped his hand with cloth, removed the ring, and examined it closely.

The ring, silver-gray in color, looked ordinary, with simple design but intricate patterns carved inside, flowing with subtle Aether energy, very restrained.

“Stealth Ring!”

Surprised showed in Ji Xinghuo’s eyes.

Weapon and armor type Supernatural equipment were common, but tiny, jewelry-like Supernatural equipment was much rarer, costing two to three times more than comparable equipment, sometimes even more.

Like Ren Mian’s Thought Necklace, Jiangnan Caiyi’s Illusion Pearl.

This Stealth Ring was a one-star Supernatural.

Its manufacturing materials incorporated two special abilities: “Silence” and “Refraction.”

When activated, the former could absorb any vibrations created by the wearer, remaining inaudible as long as the sound did not exceed its absorption limit.

The latter created an optical invisibility, not entirely transparent invisibility, but close observation at short_distances would reveal contours.

Both abilities combined allowed the wearer to enter a stealth mode!

Qi Zhaofeng had tracked him with it, activating the Stealth Ring for a moment during his use of Mystic Step, but it had no effect in front of the Wanxiang Star Pupils.

“Great stuff!”

Ji Xinghuo directly placed the ring on his left index finger.

The Stealth Ring was the most valuable item on Qi Zhaofeng—he had already broken his long sword, and the other two weren’t armed, other equipment also of little value, though there was some cash, Ji Xinghuo wasn’t interested, not wasting time searching.

He dragged the three bodies together, dropping a black flower.

Ren Mian had given Ji Xinghuo some plant samples usable by non-plant witches before leaving, kept in a small bag, which he always carried.

The Black Devourer looked like a flower, but was actually a kind of fungus, rapidly devouring organic matter, turning it into black water, serving as the most convenient way to destroy corpses.

After dealing with the bodies, Ji Xinghuo activated the Stealth Ring, leapt over the courtyard wall and left.

Ji Xinghuo avoided the crowds with his magnetic field sensing and left the area quietly. He walked a few kilometers before catching the last bus back to Qinghao Street. However, he didn’t return to the villa but actually stayed the night at the previously mentioned hotel.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, Ji Xinghuo returned to the villa. After finishing his daytime training, he went to the Extreme Martial Hall for sparring practice as usual.

Qi Zhaofeng, naturally, did not show up, but no one was surprised.

It’s common for members of the martial gym to come and go frequently. Many are often out, and it’s not unusual for someone to be absent.

After training, Ji Xinghuo opened the Wanxiang Star Pupils interface.

By killing Qi Zhaofeng and two others, he gained 20 points of psychic energy, adding to the 6 points he already had. However, upgrading any skill would require much more.

Upgrading skills like Thousand Skillful Hands or Rotating Magnetic Field needed over 1000 points of psychic energy.

To upgrade Ether Sensitivity to level four, only 433 points of psychic energy were needed.

Looking at the interface, Ji Xinghuo’s thoughts began to stir.

If he wanted to train faster, the key was “Ether Sensitivity.” Every level up would permanently increase his star power growth rate!

He gently rubbed the Stealth Ring on his index finger.

After a long contemplation, he finally decided to go hunting alone. But first, he needed to make some preparations.