13: The Fall from the Cliff

The Nine Extremes Sword Technique was unleashed, and the crimson sword radiated with resplendent starlight. In Chen Longshi’s hands, this fourth-tier star weapon, bound with thirty-six seals, displayed a power far greater than when wielded by Jiang Yuner. That was because Jiang Yuner could only use it as an ordinary sharp weapon, whereas Chen Longshi, with his profound star force, could fully activate and sustain the star power a fourth-tier weapon demanded.

Unstoppable sword energy soared to the heavens, sending the longbow flying on the spot.

His true strength had never been the spear. In his foundational training, Chen Longshi had practiced broadly—blade, sword, spear—never neglecting any. Though he hadn’t mastered many bronze-level star techniques—not for lack of ability, but for fear of spreading himself too thin—each technique he chose was the result of meticulous selection. Compared to the devastating Meteor Spear or Star-Moon Chain Slash, it was the Nine Extremes Sword Technique that reigned supreme in his hands. For this was a sword art in its purest form, containing sword principles, skills, and philosophy that far surpassed the scope of bronze-level techniques.

Hadn’t humanity, in the mere decade since calamity struck and their counteroffensive began, developed a wealth of martial arts precisely by evolving such profound star techniques?

A spurt of blood erupted—Song Yuanxian’s arm, along with his longbow, was severed and sent flying, landing not far away.

He let out a wretched scream, eyes wide with shock, as if confronted by the impossible. “How dare you?”

Had he not dodged at the critical moment, it would have been his head taken.

“Dare what?”

“Do you want to make your grandfather laugh to death and inherit all my belongings?”

Chen Longshi, angered in turn, struck again. Song Yuanxian hastily conjured an ice shield in defense. Without the aid of his star weapon, his star technique was much slower to manifest. The sword fell, shattering the ice shield, and left another deep, bone-revealing gash across Song Yuanxian’s body.

“Cousin—!” came a distant shout from Song Yuanying, his companions dumbfounded. No one had expected Song Yuanxian to lose. The fight was over in a blink, and none could have predicted this outcome.

“Cousin, run!”

In panic, Song Yuanying fired massive ice arrows in rapid succession. Chen Longshi, with a casual swing, executed “Swordquake: Sweeping the Land.” Empowered by his star weapon, his sword art was more than twice as potent; the icy arrows were shattered instantly.

“Whirlwind Sword: Scattering the Clouds.”

Whirlpools of sword energy swept up the shards of ice and cold, howling back at his foes. Song Yuanxian was struck and sent flying once more, blood gushing from his mouth. For the first time, fear of death seized his heart, freezing his thoughts. But survival is humanity’s truest instinct—ignoring his wounds, he pushed his body technique to its utmost, conjuring layers of afterimages and rapidly retreating. Chen Longshi, momentarily hindered, had to watch as he escaped.

His hand slid to his waist, producing a spinning throwing knife. He flung it, but a figure threw himself into its path, shielding Song Yuanxian from the deadly blade. Song Yuanying spat blood from his mouth, his chest pierced clean through—a testament to their brotherhood.

“Brother!” Song Yuanxian was horrified; this strike shattered his last illusion of hope. He grabbed Song Yuanying and fled at full speed.

Escape, escape—he could not die here. At this moment, all thoughts of star spirit fruit were abandoned; no matter how precious, one must live to enjoy them.

Chen Longshi drew another throwing knife, but he was a heartbeat too late; they had already vanished. Regretfully, he sheathed the blade.

In the Xuanyuan Military Academy, talents abounded. His opponents were prodigies—aside from relying on star weapons to unleash ice techniques, Song Yuanxian’s Phantom Step was something Chen Longshi admitted he could not match. After all, the movement techniques he knew, like Instant Step or Flicker Step, were designed for close-quarters combat, not long-range escape.

Besides, they were never his true target. This battle had dragged on long enough—he could only hope the star spirit fruits hadn’t all been picked. He shifted his focus, rushing toward other star-bearing trees.

For a moment, all the warriors watching from afar stood stunned.

“This outcome… who could have foreseen it?”

At first, they’d thought the archer was the real genius, but it turned out the one taking the beating was playing the fool. With a star weapon in hand, once he closed the distance, it was death or injury for his opponents. Yet he hadn’t drawn his sword until the decisive moment. Truly, the fairest faces hid the craftiest minds.

“That throwing knife…”

Someone mentioned it, and the rest shuddered. Even more memorable than the star weapon was that ghostly, unpredictable blade. Next time they met him, they’d have to be on guard.

Chen Longshi plunged into the fiercest fray. Sword in one hand, spear in the other, he fought with dual mastery. His spear spun like a silver dragon, sweeping all foes aside. Crimson sword light arced through the night—“Sword Lift: Parting the Clouds”—and a diagonal slash sent a three-meter-tall red giant crashing down, its head nearly split in half.

With another strike—“Swordquake: Sweeping the Land”—he clashed head-on with a giant’s bone club, leaving a deep wound in its chest.

No one who faced him could last a single exchange. They could only watch as he effortlessly plucked two star spirit fruits from a treetop and dashed toward the next.

“Damn it, he’s stolen them again.”

“Hey, kid, you’ve got enough—don’t push your luck!” snarled a middle-aged man from the Nine-Headed Bird Adventurer Group, wielding a massive axe.

“Alright, after this tree, it’s yours.” Chen Longshi replied with feigned cheer, yet darted even faster toward the most contested tree. There, a star spirit fruit gleamed with crimson light—perhaps another star technique fruit.

Just as he was about to succeed, a heavy blow sounded behind him. Chen Longshi instinctively raised a Repulse Shield, narrowly avoiding a fatal end. The bone club crashed down, the star shield lasting less than a second before shattering into motes of starlight.

Somewhat startled, Chen Longshi realized that the red giant chief—over four meters tall—had silently crept up on him.

Missing with one swing, the chief raised the club again. Crimson starlight glimmered at its tip—it was a star weapon, whether natural or forged. Coupled with the chief’s massive frame, it crashed down with earth-shaking force, aimed directly at Chen Longshi’s head.

At the critical moment, the Repulse Shield flared again, and Chen Longshi’s telekinesis surged forth. The shield shattered anew, but the club’s momentum was slowed by his psychic force. Still, this full-force blow far exceeded his expectations. Despite all his skills—even his previously-invincible telekinesis—he could only stall it for an instant before it struck his back.

Blood spurted from his lips as he staggered, barely steadying himself. His chest felt tight, his head ringing. He could not hold back, and coughed up a mouthful of blood. Yet, paradoxically, the pressure in his chest eased.

The chief, undeterred by two failed strikes, raised his club high once more, sending a storm of broken branches and leaves flying. Those nearby were swept aside; Chen Longshi dared not meet it head-on. Using Flicker Step, he darted to the treetop, sweeping a cluster of star spirit fruits into his open bag like fledglings returning to the nest.

The chief, enraged, lunged after him.

Once more, Chen Longshi raised his Repulse Shield and, assessing his dwindling star force, knew it was time to retreat.

With a resounding crash, the star shield shattered. This attack was different from the previous ones—a wave of force radiated out, and Chen Longshi spat blood as he was hurled backward. Grabbing a tree branch just in time, he avoided plummeting into the abyss.

“Careless—it’s Starquake Strike.”

“So this is the red giants’ unique power? Their reputation is well-earned!”

But being struck by Starquake Strike was agony. Wounded atop wounds, his insides felt like a raging sea, his head spinning with nausea so intense he wished for death.

The red giant chief came on relentless, but the tree limbs could not bear their combined weight. With a crack, the branch broke. The chief halted in anger; Chen Longshi, startled, used Mayfly Technique to float lightly to another bough, as if weightless.

The chief was furious—were it not for fear of breaking the branches and losing the star spirit fruit to the chasm, he’d have finished this thief already.

Spinning around, he drew out a long whip—clearly not to be trifled with. Made from wolf hide braided with serpent monster cartilage, cured with various resins over months, it was tougher than steel rebar and would tear flesh from bone if it struck.

With a sharp crack, the whip coiled around Chen Longshi like a venomous snake, yanking him back fiercely. Pain seared his body; the attack was so swift he couldn’t dodge. Where the whip gripped him, flesh split open. If not for his star-tempered physique, this blow would have killed him.

The whip tightened, dragging him back. Chen Longshi, in horror, unleashed his telekinesis, sending his sword to slice the whip in two. The chief, pulling on nothing, staggered and nearly fell, the whole tree trembling under his weight.

Chen Longshi, relieved, shook off the whip.

But the chief was quick, closing in and landing a punch that sent Chen Longshi coughing blood, several bones surely broken. Injured now beyond measure, he was in dire straits. But even the meekest man can be driven to fury—let alone a future overlord who’d never suffered such defeat.

Rage contorted Chen Longshi’s face. Summoning all his strength, he struck back with a sword, though half his body was numb and the swing awkward.

Yet even the chief underestimated the blade’s sharpness—a single cut nearly slew him, carving a deep wound in his chest, viscera and blood spilling forth.

Chen Longshi pressed the attack with all his might, pouring in most of his telekinesis, but the bone club blocked the blow. The two weapons clashed with a dull thud; he found himself only slightly ahead. A chill ran through him—this chief’s strength exceeded the bronze threshold, perhaps brushing the edge of silver-tier life. No wonder he was so formidable.

Unwilling to tangle any longer, Chen Longshi, enduring the pain, instinctively used Flicker Step to flee.

The chief, seeing pursuit was futile, smashed the tree with his club. Better to let everything fall than lose the star spirit fruit.

Chen Longshi, caught by surprise, lost his footing and plunged downward. At the critical moment, he lashed out with his sword, severing the branch under the chief’s feet. The chief, unable to dodge, grabbed desperately at roots and branches, but they snapped in his grasp. His massive weight dragged him down into the dark mist below.

Their battle had laid waste to the upper branches, with at least a dozen bystanders caught in the chaos.

Both men fell from the cliff together, leaving everyone dumbstruck. Even the red giants were stunned, then erupted in rage—their crimson skin blazing, their fighting spirit burning hotter still, and their human foes suffered grave casualties.

At that moment, Ji Yao and her companions, who had just secured four star spirit fruits, arrived in time to witness Chen Longshi dragging the giant chief over the precipice—unable to believe their eyes.