Calamity Messenger
Chapter 436 - 365: Wrathful and Ferocious, Calamity Descends from the Heavens
The Martial Extremes Messenger with permanent profession characteristics!
Even in the strength party’s post, this is the top choice for advancement. Although it’s indeed possible for a Sword and Blade Messenger to advance into a Martial Extremes Messenger, Yan Qing vaguely remembered the probability wasn’t high. He didn’t expect to draw it as his first profession as a player, immediately advancing as the default first profession!
Yet, amidst the excitement, Yan Qing quickly realized a huge problem: where would he get the Master Skill? In the game, buying the Master’s Secret Manual wasn’t hard—at worst, he could RMT (real money trade)—but in reality, even if Yan Qing wanted to buy it, it might not be available—the Master’s Secret Manuals were only produced in Fifth Transition Secret Realms, and their production rate was low!
In other words, if Yan Qing wanted to buy it, he would have to at least come up with Fifth Transition-level resources. Otherwise, he couldn’t sell them cheaply, whether he was a student or an animal Foundation Establishment Messenger. The only resource he had at hand was the Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends, which would probably cost him dearly in exchange because the real-world messengers’ demand for the Master’s Secret Manual was significantly higher than in the game.
Players of "Messenger" didn’t need to buy Secret Manuals to acquire Master Skills. Numerous tips and guides have already been developed in the long-operating game, and as long as they’re willing to AFK and grind, obtaining Master Skills is just a matter of time. Players mainly bought Secret Technique Introduction Manuals and Advanced Secret Manuals to level up only because those manuals were cheap and abundant, unlike costly Master Skills, which they preferred to acquire by grinding while working or sleeping.
More importantly, the "Martial Extremes World" characteristic clearly intended for players to comprehend Master Skills themselves. With a 20% probability bonus, Yan Qing thought he could give it a try; he didn’t have a Foundation Establishment Pill anyway, so there was no rush to reach max level.
But as days passed with no progress, Yan Qing began to ponder whether the additional 20% probability meant (his comprehension probability + 20%) or (his comprehension probability) * (1+20%). If it was the latter, he probably wouldn’t have hope in his lifetime.
Yan Qing had nearly forgotten about this Third-Turned Profession, and in a twist of fate, under extreme pressure, he finally comprehended a cultivation technique for the first time... Indeed, a guy who had been feeding on books for everything from Basic, Advanced, Secret Techniques, managed to comprehend a Master Skill himself—something even the Pharmacist’s Wish couldn’t achieve, showing how extraordinary the "Martial Extremes World" legendary trait was. Though it couldn’t increase combat power, its potential was in no way inferior to the Life-taking Messenger’s "Asura’s Fury."
Basic Saber Technique, Advanced Saber Technique, Basic Footwork, Advanced Footwork, Basic Swordsmanship, Advanced Swordsmanship, Secret Technique: Left Curve and Right Return, Secret Technique: Naraku Curse... Yan Qing could freely pick and refine skills he had learned from back then. His movements unrestricted by forms, he gradually formed a unique combat framework amidst the chaos, immature but perfectly fitting his style.
The Master Realm of Saber Mastery, even its first glimpse, filled Yan Qing with immense joy. Before this, he was merely an amateur wielding a blade on instinct, but from this moment on, he truly stepped into the pinnacle of skills, transcending the framework of system skills.
Yan Qing didn’t level up, but his strength and speed rose significantly.
The Master Realm not only enhanced skills but also improved his body’s control, unlocking limitations bit by bit, increasing his limits incrementally. He was far from fully exploring his body’s potential!
"The Master’s Blade Technique, exquisite and unparalleled. It’s an honor to witness such exceptional artistry."
This was the first and last time Ying Su spoke to Yan Qing.
"But the sudden increase in combat power isn’t enough to tip the scales of victory."
Ying Su let out a long howl, striking with his spear to unleash five phantom shadows, each move powerful and heavy, encompassing all of Yan Qing’s vital points!
With some of the power of the [Unity of Ten Thousand Hearts] dissipating, Ying Su’s combat strength ballooned to an unimaginable level! Earlier, he could barely control his body, but now he could perfectly exert all he had learned in his lifetime!
Secret Skill: Phoenix Five Nods!
The defensive barrier shattered in an instant. No matter how exquisite Yan Qing’s saber technique was, it couldn’t fend off all the spear shadows! He flew out like a kite with a broken string, only stopping upon crashing into the ruins of a house. The Fake Foundation Establishment’s power washed over him unimpeded, akin to being struck five times by a siege hammer—he couldn’t even get up, deeply embedded in the ruins, coughing up a mouthful of bloody froth.
Ying Rushi unraveled her bandages and rose from him.
Although not fully recovered, she already had a certain level of mobility. Even in the most dangerous moments, Yan Qing still held Ying Rushi protectively, ensuring she didn’t suffer the slightest harm, allowing her to safely pass through her most vulnerable period.
"You’ve already done well," Ying Rushi gently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Leave the rest to me."
"Don’t feel sad. Rather than becoming a tyrant who can’t live without hurting others in the future, it’s better to use this life for you and Hui. I have no regrets walking this last stretch of road with you."
Ying Rushi squatted down to embrace Yan Qing, yet her mood was calm.
She didn’t know what continuing the frequent use of the [Red Dust Eye] would result in, but she anticipated nothing good. From the start, she had a premonition that the more she indulged in the [Red Dust Eye], the further she strayed from herself. Previously, frequent use of the [Red Dust Eye] would cause pain and fainting, but now she felt no discomfort at all, and the more she used it, the more smoothly it operated, as simple as eating or drinking—almost like she’d been born with this Divine Technique.
But this was not good news. Compared to her former self several days ago, Ying Rushi was increasingly afflicted by hallucinations. She recalled spiders injecting paralyzing venom into their prey, which initially caused pain—a signal of distress from the body—but soon, the prey would feel comfort, not struggling even if their insides were sucked dry by the spider... The Ying Family’s royal descendants who wielded the [Red Dust Eye], were both spiders and prey.
From the day they awakened the Divine Techniques, they were already deeply enmeshed in this web, unable to escape.
If she continued to squander the power of the Divine Martial Bloodline, she might never wake up again. Even if she opened her eyes, she wouldn’t distinguish between reality and illusion. So, she hadn’t dared to use the [Red Dust Eye] these past days... It was a path of drinking poison to quench thirst, ending with Ying Le waiting for her.
Just for survival, the blood Ying Le shed was akin to a river. If she wanted to continue living, what price would she have to pay?
"I don’t want your life." Yan Qing exhaled a breath filled with bloody mist: "Besides, I said, right now is my time, there’s no room for you to interfere."
Ying Rushi doesn’t listen, preparing to lift him up. Ying Su had already reached the gap ahead, radiating an undeterred killing intent, but she didn’t care. Under the gaze of the Red Dust Eye, reality was merely a thought away.
"And this last part of the journey..." Yan Qing looked up at her, smiled and said, "We’ve already finished it."
He raised his head and saw through the shattered cracks on the roof, a colorful wheel on the high tower.
"Wheel of Blessing."
This was the first entertainment facility Yan Qing encountered upon entering the Demon Gathering Land.
And the last one Ye Si played!
"Ye Si!" Yan Qing shouted with all his remaining strength: "Kill him!"
"As you command." From atop the tower, Ye Si’s cold voice responded.
The Mechanical Puppets roared with rage, Ye Si’s calamity descended from the heavens!
Locked in the warehouse for seven days, Ye Si missed the Eight Fiends, missed the True Demon, nurturing seven Mechanical Puppets for seven days, each puppet boasting a physique of over ten thousand attributes... Yet at this moment, he is the strongest force in the Demon Gathering Land!
Ying Rushi stared at them in shock as they surrounded Ying Su, feeling both a sense of surprise and a slight embarrassment.
Just spoke all those brave words, yet in the end was saved by others, having done nothing herself... It’s a bit shameful.
"Ying Rushi, tell me, are you the tyrant who can’t survive without hurting others?"
Ying Rushi’s face flushed red almost to the point of bleeding, but seeing Yan Qing had no intention of teasing, seemed earnestly discussing the issue with her. She hesitated, then nodded: "What I meant was... The closer someone is to me, the easier they are to hurt, even without conflicts, illusions can breed disagreement, and if there’s already conflict, it will definitely grow into huge rifts... That’s how Ying Le became so solitary step by step."
"I’ve countless times thought, if Ying Le had awakened the Divine Martial Bloodline and died back then, would the Qi Kingdom have..." She showed a bitter smile: "Now, I finally have a chance to test that thought."
Yan Qing remained silent for a moment, seemingly having made up his mind, "Alright."
"What?"
"If you must hurt someone to survive," Yan Qing said, looking into her eyes, "then come and hurt me."
Ying Rushi was stunned.
"Whether reality or illusion, anyone who wronged or hurt you is me, feel free to revenge upon me, yet I’ll always be stronger, always ahead of you, no matter what you’ll never kill me." Yan Qing said, gripping her arms: "The day I invited you to join the ’Calamity Organization’ I told you, we’ll always share life, and death together!"
Ying Rushi had imagined Yan Qing would comfort her, would help her find a way, would face things together with her, but never imagined he would accept everything using his own hurt as a premise. Does someone in this world truly enjoy the flower’s beauty, and accept the root’s ugliness?
She lowered her head, and in Yan Qing’s shocked gaze, kissed him.
"Ugh!"
Yan Qing only felt a pain on his lips, actually bitten to the point of bleeding. But he didn’t move, nor did Ying Rushi, it wasn’t a kiss, she simply pressed against Yan Qing’s lips, delicately feeling the wound she just caused.
Tears flowed down her cheeks, washing away the Red Dust Eye’s blood-stained marks. The more tears fell, the more her face became tear-streaked, as if pouring out all life’s accumulated sorrowful tears in one go. Clearly crying, yet her mouth slightly curled upward, capturing a hint of smile.
"Alright."