Chapter 66
Chapter 66
“Forgive the offense!”
Zhou Ming cupped his hands. “Senior Su, your speed is exceptional. If this place hadn’t confined us, I couldn’t have kept you here.”
“Being comforted by a little bastard like you doesn’t make me happy at all!” Su Feng laughed and cursed. “Your Talent makes you deal more damage the lower your HP falls, doesn’t it?”
He had already noticed the pattern during their battle.
Ranged attacks, single-target burst, healing, and even more power at low HP…
Su Feng couldn’t imagine any way to defeat such a humanoid monster, which was why he had surrendered.
“No.”
Zhou Ming shook his head.
“No?” Su Feng stared blankly. “Then what is it?”
“I copy an opponent’s Talent without any conditions, then raise it by one rank,” Zhou Ming answered without concealment.
His Talent’s function had been publicly revealed after the siege. Everyone knew by now.
But it didn’t matter even if they knew.
There was no normal way to defend against Sovereign’s Descent.
“Fuck!”
Su Feng stared with his mouth open. “So if I were still alive and you copied my Talent, I wouldn’t even be able to run from you?”
“Most of your skills are related to speed, Senior. Even with an advantage from your Talent, I might not catch you.” Zhou Ming naturally wouldn’t agree with such shameless confidence.
“Sigh!”
Su Feng sighed, deeply moved by Zhou Ming’s words. “Do you know how I died?”
“This junior does not.”
“There are always things in this world you cannot run from,” Su Feng said quietly. “Great speed can preserve your own life, but it cannot preserve the lives of others.”
“…”
Zhou Ming said nothing.
“You chose to prove your Dao through strength. Your path is more correct than mine.” Su Feng’s remnant soul formed a sword gesture and pointed toward Zhou Ming’s brow from across the room. “But speed truly is your weakness. If you don’t improve it, someone will find an opening to exploit!”
[Wind Wanderer ยท Su Feng wishes to teach you the skill Shadowless Step. Accept?]
“Yes!”
How could Zhou Ming refuse such an enormous opportunity?
This was a gift from the previous owner of the God-Demon Orb!
[Congratulations! You have comprehended Shadowless Step (Rare S Rank)!]
[Shadowless Step] (Rare S Rank)
Description: Su Feng’s self-created ultimate art. Once this step is taken, even the dust is left behind and no shadow remains.
Skill Effect: Movement Speed +100% for 1 minute.
Additional Effect: Perform an explosive sprint, gaining Movement Speed +300% for 10 seconds and doubling the cooldown.
Cooldown: 5 minutes
(Growth-Type)
…
“Don’t rush to thank me!” Su Feng added before Zhou Ming could speak. “We have no familial bond or friendship. I am teaching you Shadowless Step for three reasons.”
Zhou Ming’s expression turned solemn. “Please tell me, Senior!”
“I spent more effort than I can measure creating Shadowless Step. If it vanishes with me, the world loses another supreme art. That is my first reason for passing it to you!”
Su Feng gazed at the young man before him, filled with emotion. “Second, the God-Demon Orb’s trials are far, far too difficult. Failing to reach their end is my greatest regret. I hope you can carry my will and witness the view that waits beyond every trial.”
“This junior will do everything in his power!” Zhou Ming answered gravely.
“As for the third reason…”
Su Feng’s gaze settled upon Qianying, and his remnant soul slowly began to disperse. “I hope you take good care of Qianying. She’s a good girl.”
Zhou Ming: “…”
Qianying: “…”
The room fell completely silent.
The request Su Feng made after teaching him Shadowless Step left Zhou Ming in a very awkward position.
“Ahem!”
After confirming Su Feng was dead, Zhou Ming cautiously glanced at Qianying and coughed. “The reason I said all that just now was actually…”
“I know!”
Qianying interrupted him with perfect understanding. “You were deliberately provoking Su Feng. You didn’t mean to offend me.”
“Exactly!” Zhou Ming nodded repeatedly. “You’re not angry, are you?”
“It was an excellent tactic!” Qianying’s expression remained calm. “If I blamed you for that, wouldn’t I be making trouble for no reason?”
Zhou Ming had seen Su Feng’s feelings for her and used them to increase his odds of victory. There was nothing wrong with that.
Besides, his words had been perfectly measured. In a certain sense, everything he said really was true.
“As long as you’re not angry.” Zhou Ming relaxed, then thought of something. “Come to think of it, Su Feng was the God-Demon Orb’s previous successor. Didn’t you stay beside him?”
“The God-Demon Orb is an extraordinary object, but I am not bound to it,” Qianying explained. “Its successors do not necessarily have anything to do with me.”
“I see.”
For some inexplicable reason, Zhou Ming felt the conversation was growing a little too deep. He hurriedly changed the subject and returned to the present. “Senior Su has passed on. I hope he won’t mind if I take his belongings.”
He approached the gray-white skeleton that had decayed long ago.
The equipment on the corpse crumbled at the slightest touch, its power completely gone. Only a pair of boots remained, glowing green after resisting the erosion of time. They were clearly no ordinary item.
Zhou Ming picked up the boots and used Inspect.
[Gale Boots] (Gold)
Zhou Ming looked at Qianying. “Can you enhance these?”
“I can.”
Qianying nodded and sent energy into the Gale Boots, restoring a faint shadow of their former glory.
[Gale Boots] (War Soul)
Defense: 300-350
HP: 5,000
Traits: HP +30%, Defense +30%
Trait: Movement Speed +50%
Special Effect: Full Speed. When your back is turned to an enemy, Movement Speed receives an additional +30%.
Description: Once a peerless divine artifact forged by the dwarf race at Su Feng’s enormous expense. Unfortunately, the power of time has stripped away its former might.
…
The Gale Boots were clearly stronger than ordinary War Soul equipment, especially in the amount of speed they provided.
Zhou Ming replaced his Radiant Goldsource Boots. Every piece of defensive gear he wore was now War Soul grade.
“The forging materials used in this equipment are exceptional, but the years have corroded it until it can no longer display its true power!” Qianying warned. “Even if you obtain better boots later, keep these. Find a master craftsman and have them reforged.”
“All right!”
Zhou Ming understood.
The description stated it plainly. The Gale Boots had once been a peerless divine artifact, so every forging material used in them must have been among the best of the best.
After equipping the Gale Boots, he carried Su Feng’s remains out of the room and gave them a proper burial.
Only when he finished did the long-delayed system chime ring in his ears.
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest Defeat Su Feng and may now advance your class!]
Zhou Ming took out the God-Demon Orb and gripped it tightly. “Nothing else should go wrong this time, right?”
Truthfully, this trip had been well worth it.
He had obtained the Gale Boots and inherited Su Feng’s skill. Now he could complete his class advancement too. Three gains from a single journey!
Bubble, bubble…
Threads of vivid, flame-red energy flowed out from the God-Demon Orb and entered Zhou Ming. His blood surged as his strength rose without pause.
Bang!
The temperature around his body soared. Zhou Ming’s hair grew longer and gradually turned red, burning like living flame.
Several seconds later, system chimes rang in rapid succession.
[Congratulations! You have completed the Flame Demon Lord class advancement. Your growth ratings have increased substantially!]
[Congratulations! You have completed the Flame Demon Lord class advancement. The fire-element power within your body has been further released…]
…