Chapter 58: The Headless General (Revised)

Moreover, his spiritual awareness was intensely focused on everything within two hundred yards, yet he had no inkling of these feet appearing beside him.

Slowly raising his head while gripping the hilt of his blade, he saw a pair of boots enter his field of vision, followed by greaves, a battle spear, waist, chest plate, arm guards, and finally—the head... Ling Chi realized, with a chill running down his spine, that the thick neck was utterly empty, headless.

His scalp tingled. Wait—a movement. The hand gripping the spear had stirred.

Damn it all, this was a headless general, standing seven feet tall, built like a mountain, clad in full battle armor, and he had somehow appeared right at Ling Chi’s side without him noticing. And now, the thing was moving.

Ling Chi held his breath, lightning flickering in his eyes as he fixed his gaze on the headless general. Quietly, he drew back his right leg, his thumb pushing open the guard of his blade.

He felt as though a pair of invisible eyes upon that vacant neck were studying him up and down.

What he paid close attention to, though, was the right hand gripping the spear. Suddenly, a premonition struck him.

[Thunder Flash]

Ling Chi darted three or four yards in the opposite direction—the perfect distance for a counterattack. Taking a beating without responding was never his style; even against an unknown foe, he refused to stand there and be struck.

The very spot where he’d been standing was now pierced by a battle spear, deeply embedded in the earth. Had he not dodged in time, that headless fiend would have split his skull with a single blow. The headless general possessed, at minimum, the strength of a late-stage Qi Sea cultivator.

“Shit!”

Ling Chi shouted, channeling the full power of his Solar Thunder Undying Body. His flesh gleamed with a violet-gold hue.

He drew his saber, lightning coursing over his body, arcs as thick as barrels encircling him for several yards. The momentum of the horse-chopping blade crashed down, aiming straight for the general’s forehead—wait, it had no forehead.

He swung for the neck instead. He didn't know the creature’s weakness, so he’d slash first and figure it out later.

But the spear blocked his blow, the collision of blade and spear sending shockwaves that blasted away the grass and trees for dozens of yards.

So, you know how to defend yourself? Good. I only fear those reckless fools who ignore defense, like me.

The headless general thrust Ling Chi away with a powerful strike, then swept the spear in a wide arc, the wind howling as it slashed toward him.

Ling Chi raised his evil-slaying blade, bracing for the blow, but the crushing force sent him flying. He crashed through several trees before coming to a halt, then sprang up, lightning flashing as he once again charged the headless general.

Now that he had a sense of the creature’s strength, Ling Chi became far more composed. He drew a deep breath, the sea of thunder within him spinning rapidly, spiritual energy from all around gathering to his body.

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[Grunt] [Ha!]

The twin breaths of Grunt and Ha erupted alongside the roar of thunder, blasting wave after wave through the air. A small dragon of thunderous mist roared as it charged the headless general. Its armor shone with silver light, and the shockwaves rippled across its form.

Ling Chi pressed in, his Nine Palaces Draconic Step shifting his position ceaselessly, his horse-chopping blade hacking at the general, the clash of metal ringing out.

Their battle grew ever more frenzied, the entire forest devastated in the wake of their struggle. Every creature, great or small, had long since fled. Their weapons moved so fast only afterimages remained, while the occasional thud of fists and feet echoed.

Lightning poured over the general, its armor’s silver glow fending it off. The spear struck Ling Chi, sparks flying as metal met metal, but Ling Chi only grew more exhilarated, his fighting spirit surging.

Within him, the sea of thunder now swirled into a vortex, drawing spiritual energy from miles around. This was his true trump card—he could fight endlessly, wearing down the headless general’s yin aura in time.

His blade became a storm of slashing, chopping, slicing, parrying, scraping, flicking, thrusting, drawing, hacking, winding, fanning, blocking, sliding, and stabbing—each move basic, yet far faster, more precise, and more ruthless than ever before.

Each attack was intercepted by the spear, but he reveled in the contest.

Headless fiend, I will use you to temper my cultivation.

The spirit of battle within him awakened, driving him by pure instinct. Broken ribs meant nothing—his fighting intent only grew more fierce.

The headless general fought like an automaton, mindlessly swinging the spear. The longer reach, the greater power—its spear moved in an impenetrable web. Every time Ling Chi tried to close in, he was forced back, compelled to clash weapon against weapon.

No one knew how long they fought. The surrounding trees were obliterated, and for the first time, sunset’s glow reached this stretch of forest.

Ling Chi’s upper garments had been shredded, his muscular torso cut open again and again by the spear’s edge, the wounds deep enough to reveal bone. Yet he seemed not to feel it, his battle spirit towering sky-high.

The headless general’s armor was battered, its torso scored with Ling Chi’s blade and seared with the marks of his blazing yang power. The monstrous body exuded billowing yin aura, but its pallid skin was as tough as tempered steel.

The evil-slaying blade had left deep scars across the spear. This was not just a battle between two warriors, but between two weapons as well.

They fought from afternoon to dusk, from dusk into the night, their speed undiminished. Sparks flew with every collision, the thunderous noise echoing for miles.

Ling Chi swung his saber again and again, each strike blocked by the spear. The headless general’s yin aura grew only denser.

Suddenly, Ling Chi noticed silvery moonlight streaming toward the general.

“Damn, this bastard is recharging.”

His calculations fell apart. The headless general could absorb the energy of the moon, extending his endurance. If this continued, it would be two perpetual motion machines locked in endless combat.

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No, this can’t go on—I have to find a way to deal it a heavy blow.

Ling Chi forced himself calm, mind racing.

He watched as moonlight energy entered the general’s body, slowly repairing its wounds. Ling Chi felt a headache brewing—wasn’t this the kind of power reserved for protagonists? Wasn’t he the protagonist here?

He steeled himself. He couldn’t wait any longer or the creature would become even harder to finish off.

“Haah!”

Ling Chi let out a furious roar. The sea of thunder within him spun to its utmost, spiritual energy from miles around flooding toward him.

His body blazed with thunder, dazzling light splitting the night sky. Arcs of electricity surged all around him, thunderous energy boiling over.

He swung his blade in a feint, right arm locked straight, left leg as pivot, twisting his waist and hips, hurling the crimson horse-chopping blade like a javelin.

The blade tip shattered the air, streaking toward the headless general like a missile. The general spun its spear, trying to intercept, but the evil-slaying blade howled past, grazing the spear and plunging toward its chest.

The general gathered yin energy in its hand, catching the crimson blade. But the searing yang power was utterly at odds with its yin aura—water and fire incompatible. The hand was burned through, and the pain made the general stagger.

Ling Chi seized the opportunity. With a flicker, he slipped behind the general. Sensing him, the general stabbed backward with its spear.

Ling Chi didn’t dodge. Twisting his arms, he locked the general’s arms, his knee braced against its spine. Thunder and blazing yang erupted from his body, violet-gold and brilliant crimson wrapping them both.

The headless general thrashed in agony, yin energy spewing out, hissing as it was absorbed by the thunder pearl within Ling Chi. Gritting his teeth, he maintained his death grip, not daring to slacken for an instant.

In its final struggle, the general unleashed a surge of strength, limbs contracting, body arching in a violent spasm.

Crack!

A sharp snap—Ling Chi’s forearm broke like brittle wood, jagged bone piercing through, pale golden blood streaming out. Veins bulged on his forehead, the pain so intense he could no longer maintain the hold.

The headless general broke free with a jerk. Ignoring the agony, Ling Chi sprang away with a desperate roll, grabbing his saber, eyes locked on the general, ready for a fight to the death.

But to his surprise, the general picked up its spear and shot off into the dense forest without a backward glance.

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