Chapter Ten: Time to Confess

The Lord of the Refined Iron Sword was suddenly enveloped in green light, activating the skill Divine Movement for three seconds—a life-saving skill rarely used except in dire situations. In the blink of an eye, he dashed to the very edge of the attack range.

"Damn, that's cunning!"

"Go, Flow Strike!"

Qin Chuan locked onto the Refined Iron Sword Lord, who was about to slip out of range.

A sharp whistling sound echoed, followed by a clang and a crack—the sword lord braced himself, but another crack appeared on his sword's blade.

"How is this even possible? You can hit me from that far? Is there no justice in this world?"

The Refined Iron Sword Lord was practically in tears, his blade spinning several meters away, barely holding together, but just outside Qin Chuan's attack range now.

Qin Chuan's next strike would surely miss.

"Upgrade the Flow Strike skill!"

Qin Chuan hurriedly upgraded Flow Strike, unwilling to let his quarry escape.

"System: Skill upgraded successfully. Flow Strike phase two activated."

"Slide five meters!"

At that moment, Qin Chuan shadowed his prey, darting forward to deliver a flurry of thrusts.

Clang after clang, followed by a shattering crack.

"System: Critical hit triggered."

"System: You have slain level 10 Refined Iron Sword Lord, gaining 2,500 experience. Over-level kill bonus: 100% experience. Congratulations, Host, you have gained 5,000 experience."

Within the three-second limit, Qin Chuan finally brought down the Refined Iron Sword Lord.

Returning to his original spot, he leapt back and activated Devour.

"System: Devour successful. 500 evolution points gained."

Evolution Points: 4,820/6,400
Experience: 14,300/51,200
Rage: 10/100

Now, the Refined Iron Sword Lord had shattered into several pieces, his soul orb broken, and the soft leather wrapped around the hilt suddenly unfurled.

"Hmm, what's this?"

Qin Chuan picked up the soft leather and found it was a map.

The map showed the forest where Qin Chuan currently stood, appearing tiny on its surface.

"So, it's a map of the Spirit Plane. The level markings here are quite useful."

"Wait, what's this? Locations of mines?"

"Well, look at that—the map marks many mines, though none are in this area."

"System: Spirit Plane map discovered. Would you like to copy it, Host?"

"Damn, the system can do that? Sure, copy it."

"System: Copy in progress. Please wait."

"System: Copy successful. You may view the map in the copy panel. The system will automatically mark places you’ve visited and related information."

"Ah, how convenient!"

Qin Chuan examined the map carefully. The forest he was in was called the Sunset Forest, where the highest-level creature was a second-tier, high-grade Swift Spirit Leopard, of exceptional quality, level 11 Lord.

He checked several marked locations and was suddenly elated.

"Ha, another big haul!"

At this moment, Qin Chuan felt he was becoming something of a bandit.

"Second-tier, low-grade Iron Spirit Tiger, exceptional quality, level 10 Lord. This spirit beast is perfect—prefers solitary action, making it easier to hunt."

"Alright, time to get to work!"

Qin Chuan locked onto the Iron Spirit Tiger and set off straight toward its territory.

Lords in the Spirit Plane command great authority; generally, lower-level spirits dare not enter a Lord’s domain lightly.

The Iron Spirit Tiger favored offense, but its speed and resilience were also remarkable. Among level 10 Lords, it was a formidable presence, dwelling deep in the mountain forest.

Standing one and a half meters tall and over three meters long, the Iron Spirit Tiger boasted razor-sharp claws and fangs, a tail two meters in length, and a blue soul orb embedded in its forehead.

Just then, a majestic roar echoed from the forest, the territory falling eerily silent.

The Iron Spirit Tiger gazed contentedly over its domain, opening its jaws wide. "Only by maintaining constant authority can one rule the territory well."

A gust of wind swept through, making the Iron Spirit Tiger turn alertly behind.

"Who goes there?"

"Impressive vigilance, Lord."

Qin Chuan had intended to ambush, but the Iron Spirit Tiger was too sharp, immediately sensing his intrusion. So, Qin Chuan abandoned stealth and leapt out from behind a tree.

The Iron Spirit Tiger’s eyes glinted coldly, jaws agape. "Who are you? Why trespass in my territory? Do you not know the rule that trespassers die?"

"Well, it's time to be honest. I'm here to kill you!"

Qin Chuan chuckled, wasting no words, and swung his sword in a straightforward attack.

"Ridiculous. With that shabby level nine sword, you must be tired of living. You're courting death!"

The Iron Spirit Tiger scoffed, roaring as it swung its claw toward Qin Chuan's Black Iron Sword.

But the next moment’s attack was too much for the tiger to withstand.

A ringing clash—the tiger’s claw split open, its body sent flying uncontrollably. Above its head, green light bloomed, as if countless Black Iron Swords rained down from the sky.

"Impossible! How can this be?"

The agony that followed made the Iron Spirit Tiger feel as though it were being torn apart.

"Argh!"

At first contact, the tiger suffered grievous wounds.

Qin Chuan, having struck true, grinned, "How does that feel? Have another—Flow Strike!"

On the way here, Qin Chuan had prepared a critical strike, hoping to catch the tiger off guard.

Combined with his ultimate skill’s targeted bombardment, it worked wonders.

Now, Flow Strike was wielded to seal the victory.

A shrill whistle sounded.

"System: Critical hit triggered."

"Damn, luck's on my side! Another critical!"

With a slash, the Iron Spirit Tiger’s defenses were shattered, suffering unimaginable harm.

Though this critical didn’t knock it back, the tiger was nearly finished. It roared, unleashing its ultimate move.

"Spirit Tiger Roar!"

Its fur bristled, jaws wide, unleashing a violent sonic wave at Qin Chuan’s Black Iron Sword.

"Blink!"

Qin Chuan didn’t hesitate, activating Blink to dodge the tiger’s ultimate.

The tiger’s attack missed, only felling a few trees ahead.

At this point, its fate was sealed, with no chance left to flee or counterattack.

"Slide!"

Qin Chuan triggered phase two of Flow Strike, sliding to the tiger’s flank.

He delivered several quick attacks, and the last strike triggered a fatal blow.

"Damn! My luck is out of this world!"

"System: You have slain level 10 Iron Spirit Tiger Lord, gaining 2,500 experience. Over-level kill bonus: 100% experience. Congratulations, Host, you have gained 5,000 experience."

"Ha! That went so smoothly—otherwise, it would've taken much more effort."

"Devour the essence!"

"System: Devour successful. 500 evolution points gained."

"Yes! Just a bit more to evolve!"

On the way here, Qin Chuan had farmed rage, experience, and essence; now, evolution was within reach.

Evolution Points: 6,130/6,400
Experience: 23,350/51,200
Rage: 10/100

Ever since his quality rose to exceptional, level 10 Lords no longer posed much trouble for Qin Chuan.

Still, for experience and essence, Qin Chuan gladly risked his life.

"Who will be next?"

A smirk played on Qin Chuan’s lips as he checked the map. "Hmm, you then—Thousand Vine Tree Lord."

The Thousand Vine Tree Lord was an ancient vine tree, belonging to the ranged attack type. Normally the most low-key, it was also the most troublesome; Lords of the same rank avoided it.

As usual, the Thousand Vine Tree Lord lay hidden in its wooded domain, sprawling roots deep underground, and hundreds of vines scattered seemingly at random.

The area was deathly quiet, no spirit beasts stirring, for entering the Thousand Vine Tree's territory meant certain death.

But the calm was shattered when the Black Iron Sword arrived, bouncing and leaping.

The vines, which appeared idle, began to stir, suddenly sweeping toward the Black Iron Sword like a tidal wave.

"Heh, eager, aren't you?"

Qin Chuan was prepared and not alarmed. He locked onto a deeply hidden old tree and attacked.

"Go! Flow Strike!"

The Black Iron Sword shot forward, swiftly breaking through the Thousand Vine Tree Lord’s blockade.

"Wait—a Black Iron Sword like this is unusual!"

The Thousand Vine Tree Lord’s skill, Thousand Vine Net, which had never failed, was suddenly ineffective.

"Thousand Vine Spear!"

Realizing the danger, the tree lord unleashed an attack skill.

A green spear materialized, striking at the Black Iron Sword.

"Heh, quick reaction, but it's futile!"

Though the green spear was tough, it was no match for the Black Iron Sword, which had devoured an entire mine.

With a hiss, the Black Iron Sword pierced straight through the green spear, continuing toward the tree lord.

The Thousand Vine Tree Lord could scarcely believe a mere level nine Black Iron Sword possessed such sharpness.

"Damn, misjudged!"

The tree lord was filled with dread, sensing the threat of death.

With a thud, the Black Iron Sword stabbed through the old tree. Yet Qin Chuan heard no system prompt, clearly indicating the tree lord hadn’t died.

Hiding nearby, the Thousand Vine Tree Lord was both shocked and furious. "What kind of spirit weapon is this? It forced me to waste my ultimate—puppet substitution!"