"So that's how it is," Su Chen realized. Both classes must reach the eighth tier to qualify for promotion to the Morning Star tier.
This wasn't a class requirent, but rather a fundantal qualification.
That made sense. If it were rely above the eighth tier, it would certainly be powerful, but it wouldn't quite live up to the title of Morning Star, especially considering the spirituality and other aspects of the class.
Both classes needed to be at the eighth tier, and then upon promoting to the Morning Star tier, one still had to ignite so kind of Morning Star Fire.
Going by this logic, a ninth tier should exist for single-class promotions, but it was likely far inferior to the Morning Star tier.
With his current dual-class progression, he could practically beat a single-class user with one hand tied behind his back, let alone when he accumulated his power step by step to the eighth tier.
Realization dawned in Ming Lin's eyes, followed by a bitter smile. He had thought his Black Jade talent was already incredible, but he had just been a frog at the bottom of a well.
Aside from a select few, everyone else looked sowhat bewildered, completely failing to understand what Hong Xuan was talking about.
"Teacher—" Su Chen called out, but he felt helpless when Xia Hanshi raised a hand to stop him.
He was confident he could defeat Hong Xuan and wanted to use this opportunity to learn more. It was just a fight, after all. However, Old Xia did not seem inclined to accept this wager.
'So it's like this—' A look of deep thought flashed through Xia Hanshi's eyes. This was Hong Xuan proving that he indeed knew a great deal.
Having reached this point, it was impossible to spare Hong Xuan's life.
"If you lose, are you truly willing to reveal everything?" Shi Yunzhou suddenly asked.
"I will accept my loss," Hong Xuan replied imdiately, his nervousness and apprehension visible to the naked eye.
Xia Hanshi frowned. Just as he was about to speak, he picked up a covert ntal fluctuation from Shi Yunzhou: "Give him a chance. I want to know what Wu Chenpei lied to us about."
"If Su Chen wins, we'll make him kill himself. Being inferior in skill ans even the capital won't be able to find fault with it."
Xia Hanshi shook his head. "Since he proposed this idea, he probably has a high degree of confidence in winning."
Shi Yunzhou did not care. "Even if Su Chen loses, we'll still kill him. We might lose so face, but I will bear the infamy."
Shi Yunzhou planned to agree, but not entirely. They had complete control of the situation. It was just a fight. No matter the outco, it would not change Hong Xuan's inevitable death.
Winning would yield a profit, and losing would not incur any loss.
Waiting until Wu Chenpei returned to deal with Hong Xuan would be true stupidity.
Hearing this, Xia Hanshi glanced at Shi Yunzhou in surprise. Since that was the case, there was no need to stop him. He only wanted Hong Xuan dead.
"Shall we head to the challenge arena then?" Shi Yunzhou asked.
"No need," Hong Xuan declared loudly, then explained, "I only promoted to the fourth tier right before coming to Yingfeng. Furthermore, the journey here was fraught with accidents, so I haven't properly developed my abilities. There is practically no gap between Su Chen and ."
The timing of Hong Xuan's promotion was no secret. Just as he said, he had reached the fourth tier shortly before arriving in Yingfeng. Not long after his arrival, Su Chen had also promoted. The difference was only a matter of a few months.
It was fine not to use the arena. If Su Chen lost, they could use this as an excuse to make trouble, barely keeping a fig leaf over their dignity.
Shi Yunzhou had already made up his mind, his thoughts entirely focused on how to make his loss of face look a bit better. After a brief silence, he looked at Su Chen. "What are your thoughts?"
Su Chen pondered for a mont before looking at Hong Xuan. "You have a thod for class fusion?"
"That's right. It's a special class, born from the thod of promoting to the Morning Star tier. If you win, I can tell you about it too." Hong Xuan seed terrified that Su Chen would refuse, so he imdiately sweetened the pot.
'So it's a special class,' Su Chen nodded, slowly stepping forward. "Alright, then I will experience it for myself."
'This kid seems confident.' Xia Hanshi looked at Su Chen. Even he didn't know what class Su Chen had promoted to or how strong he was.
Ming Lin couldn't help but feel tense. Bu Siqi couldn't resist poking Teng Liang beside him. "What's the situation with our junior brother? Didn't he promote to a high-grade fourth tier?"
"Are they really going to spare his life? What is Elder Shi thinking?"
The gathered inquisitors whispered among themselves. Su Chen's promotion to the fourth tier was no longer a secret. Due to his extrely fast progression, many assud his class grade was low.
However, few would believe it was a mid-grade or low-grade class either. Given Su Chen's terrifying speed of advancent, a high-grade fourth-tier class was the most acceptable conclusion.
"Are you confident?"
He had actually agreed. Seeing this, Lu Kai showed no joy; instead, his anxiety deepened as he sent out a covert ntal fluctuation to ask Hong Xuan.
Although he had a physical class, reaching this tier ant he could still mobilize so ntal energy for secret communication.
"His promotion speed is too fast. I estimate he has a high-grade fourth-tier class, so beating him shouldn't be a major issue," Hong Xuan stared solemnly at Su Chen, replying secretly. "But my chances of survival are incredibly slim."
"You think so too." Lu Kai gritted his teeth secretly. "Even if you win, there's no way they will wait for Holy Envoy Wu to return."
A fair fight? There was absolutely no possibility of fairness here.
They held a massive advantage, yet they still agreed to Hong Xuan's wager. They just wanted to squeeze out his last bit of value.
"Exactly. So later, I need you to act according to the situation," Hong Xuan's eyes turned icy.
"What situation?" Lu Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The opportunity to kill Su Chen," Hong Xuan quickly outlined his plan. "Things have reached a point where only one of us can survive. Once I kill him, all my hopes will rest on myself."
Lu Kai's heart jolted. "Is... is that feasible?"
"Do you have a better idea?" Hong Xuan countered.
Lu Kai fell silent, then hesitated. "I can hold off Xia Hanshi, but I can't stop Shi Yunzhou."
"I need you to delay Shi Yunzhou for a split second, not Xia Hanshi," Hong Xuan emphasized.
Lu Kai glanced at Shi Yunzhou from the corner of his eye and couldn't help but say, "How is that possible?"
He wasn't just talking about delaying Shi Yunzhou for a split second. Even if he sohow succeeded, an enraged Xia Hanshi would tear Hong Xuan to pieces monts after Su Chen's death.
He also had to hope that Shi Yunzhou would react instantly, suppress his inner fury, realize that Hong Xuan could not be allowed to die anymore, and step in to stop Xia Hanshi.
The chances of all these conditions being t were far too low.
"The window of opportunity is only a fraction of a second. The hope of success is indeed slim, but in this situation, a desperate gamble is our only choice." Hong Xuan didn't answer his question; he had already stepped forward.
The wager was just a smokescreen; killing Su Chen was his true goal. Even though the probability was extrely low, it was the only plan he could formulate. The outco couldn't be any worse than death.
The space below the reception building was quite large. Both factions retreated a certain distance, leaving ample room for the two of them to fight.
"Are weapons allowed?" Su Chen asked, pulling a small, cylindrical pillar of dark gold tal from his jacket.
"An all-out battle," Hong Xuan reached out his hand, and soone had already brought him his weapon. It was a long spear, coursing with a crimson glow.
His gaze was slightly unfocused as he pondered how to maximize his minuscule chances.
He had to close the distance as much as possible, giving Xia Hanshi no ti to react. Furthermore, he had to use an absolute killing move, leaving Su Chen no chance of survival. That ant he could only aim for the head.
Su Chen stood in place, eager to test out his newly conceived combat tactic. Invisible wind currents enveloped the surface of his body.
Activating his Word Spirit power, he muttered, "Injure my body to the point where it doesn't hinder my movent, but allows to unleash the maximum power of the [Pain Engine]."
The Word Spirit power had a drawback: it had to be spoken aloud; ntal energy couldn't substitute for verbalization.
As his words fell, his ntal energy depleted rapidly. Su Chen suppressed all his bodily instincts to reduce the Word Spirit's consumption.
An even, stinging pain radiated throughout his entire body. However, the warm currents pumping from his heart circulated through him, growing thicker and more robust.
Not only that, Su Chen even buffed himself with [Holy Hand]. This passive-like ability could only provide a temporary enhancent.
During this short duration, the conversion ratio between his injuries and his power amplification increased drastically. The endless warm currents bursting from his heart caused his skin to take on a faint crimson hue.
"A pity. This kind of damage doesn't bring any other benefits."
Su Chen was still sowhat unsatisfied. The Word Spirit power wasn't equivalent exchange. He couldn't trade injuries for benefits, and the stinging pain in his body deepened.
"There must be so class out there that exchanges self-inflicted damage for a short burst of power. Taking damage for nothing like this is a huge loss."
""
Consuming more than half of his ntal energy allowed him to perfectly utilize the [Pain Engine] without hindering his movents or attacks.
"Phew—" Su Chen exhaled a breath that carried a faint scent of blood.
Noticing the wind currents surging around Su Chen, Hong Xuan speculated inwardly, 'This guy excels in speed, but since promoting to the fourth tier, I've already compensated for my weakness in that area. If he still tries to rely on speed to dominate, this might be my chance—'
'Hm?'
Suddenly, his expression changed slightly. He watched as Su Chen's aura wilted for a mont, the surrounding wind currents dispersing to reveal a faint, crimson heat radiating from him. His entire deanor beca exceedingly bizarre.
"Just about right—" Su Chen muttered, feeling his increasingly powerful body. Compared to his base state, all his physical attributes had nearly doubled.
Of course, this conversion ratio was only achievable with the augntation of [Holy Hand].
All class abilities that relied on physical strength would also be amplified. This class was indeed formidable, but its requirents were just too perverse.
Su Chen couldn't help but ponder this. He tapped his foot lightly against the ground. The earth trembled violently, caving in uniformly. The expressions of the distant spectators changed drastically.
Using the counter-force, Su Chen vaulted into the air. The mont his figure soared upward, thousands of black lightning snakes erupted from his pores. This dark lightning possessed light-devouring properties, suddenly plunging the midday sky into gloomy darkness.
His ntal energy was drained dry, only to be converted outward.
Holy Hand augntation, Calamity Lord form!
Holy Hand augntation, Pale Thunder Calamity Strike!
The nutrients stored by the Glutton class were just enough to allow him to use Holy Hand two more tis. It was perfectly calculated.
Rumble!
Like thousands of thunderbolts crashing down, the Formless True Blade transford into a massive, dark gold mountain-cleaving axe. With the power currently stored in his body, only a colossal weapon like this could allow him to unleash it completely.
Invisible and formless, swift and tyrannical!
In the blink of an eye, he arrived right in front of Hong Xuan.
How fierce and unyielding this strike was!
Watching the battle, Teng Liang's eyelids twitched, and his skin rippled like water. It was his body's autonomous reaction to sensing extre danger.
A trace of horror flashed through Ming Lin's eyes.
At that mont, they could no longer even see Su Chen.
What was even more terrifying was that such a tyrannical and swift strike produced no sound whatsoever, nor did it emit any shockwaves. Only the surrounding thunderstorm shrieked violently.
Everything felt incredibly natural, as if Su Chen was always ant to appear right there.
The distant spectators felt nothing but dread. Taking the brunt of the assault, Hong Xuan's pupils contracted sharply. His vision went black as an explosive chill erupted in his heart, rapidly spreading through his entire body.
This strike exceeded the limits of his comprehension. The axe gleam tore through the sky, seemingly fusing into one with the lightning, indistinguishable from each other.
Before the attack even reached him, Hong Xuan felt his entire body go numb. Moreover, it was inconceivably fast. The gap between them was even larger than during their last battle.
'Th—this is impossible!'
Let alone killing Su Chen, whether he could even block this strike was questionable!
In that lightning-fast instant, Hong Xuan's adrenaline surged, his heart pounding like a war drum.
This ti, no one could save him at the juncture of life and death. At such a critical mont, all of his potential was squeezed out, making his reaction surprisingly fast.
Hong Xuan's eyes turned entirely crimson, completely bloodshot. A loud series of crisp pops erupted from his body. It wasn't the friction of joints, but the sound of rushing blood, roaring like colliding steel balls.
With his long hair standing on end, he abruptly raised his hand. Amidst the spewing crimson flas, his hand transford into a beastly claw covered in red scales. He tightly gripped his spear as crimson fire boiled, making him look like a manifested red dragon!
Trading injury for injury, life for life!
At that instant, Xia Hanshi's heart clenched, and he prepared to intervene at any mont.
Right then, the thoroughly tense Lu Kai almost lunged toward Shi Yunzhou.
'He cannot be underestimated.'
This thought surfaced in Su Chen's mind. This was Hong Xuan's desperate strike, squeezing out every ounce of his strength.
"What a pity—you're too slow."
The all-out axe swing he chopped out had already torn through the crimson flas wreathing Hong Xuan's body.
Hong Xuan's counterattack could not be considered slow, but Su Chen's speed was simply far beyond his reach.
Crackle!
Black lightning exploded from the giant axe. The Pale Thunder Calamity Strike was compressed within, making its might even more overbearing as it crashed down from above.
At the crucial mont, Su Chen avoided his head, anchoring the landing point on his shoulder.
The crimson spear in Hong Xuan's hands had only just barely thrust forward. Even with his reach advantage, Su Chen's speed was so incomparable that he effortlessly bypassed the attack.
Slash!
The massive axe descended. Hong Xuan's already crimson eyes were dyed a bloody red. Accompanying the axe blade was an imnsely majestic force.
In an instant, he heard the sound of shattering bones. The interwoven crimson flas, skin, and muscles on his body were effortlessly torn apart!
Lu Kai's heart trembled. He stared in disbelief at the black lightning that abruptly surged and spread in ripples.
The combat unfolding before his eyes greatly exceeded his expectations.
It was an even worse crushing defeat than the last ti. Hong Xuan didn't even seem to pose a threat to Su Chen. He had no chance to retaliate, let alone kill Su Chen.
He was intimately familiar with Hong Xuan's situation. ticulously nurtured, every single tier was a top-grade class, and he even possessed a bizarre class fusion thod.
Even if Su Chen had similar conditions, he should at most fight Hong Xuan to a draw. A one-sided situation like this should be impossible, especially considering Hong Xuan had promoted months earlier than Su Chen.
'Just how many special support classes does this Su Chen have?'
Tang Chen's hands and feet went ice-cold, his face deathly pale.
'He won?'
Bu Siqi sharply caught the scent of blood and licked his lips.
Then, the coalesced, undissipating mass of black lightning finally erupted completely, sweeping out like a violent gale.
"Ahhh!"
An earth-shattering, agonized roar echoed through the surroundings, laced with incomparably excruciating pain.
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