Chapter 164: Patchwork Monster

Chang Yin shook his hand, his eyes brimming with Battle Intent fixed intently on Jiang Yan.

“Now, it’s just us.”

Below the arena, several Staff members carried away two True Intent Martial Artists covered in blood.

Even among those who have attained True Intent, there are differences.

The Dueling Arena was filled with the scent of blood, the Audience crowded beneath the platform, shouting and cheering loudly.

The atmosphere was fiery.

Chang Yin was the only one who could barely exchange a move or two with Jiang Yan, which was why they couldn’t help but feel excited.

However, that was no longer possible, because Jiang Yan had already condensed seven War Ruins Engravings, capable of obliterating Chang Yin with the slightest movement.

“Make your move.”

“Alright!”

Chang Yin let out a loud shout. The Crimson Nether Mark swiftly writhed up to his cheeks, transforming into ferocious fang-like patterns that spread across his entire face. His delicate features now carried a hint of savagery, his pupils replaced by a furious crimson. The blood vessels in his body bulged, his heart beat violently, emitting a roar like that of an electric motor.

This time, Chang Yin could actively allow himself to be controlled by the Crimson Nether Mark. His determination to defeat Jiang Yan caused his emotions to fluctuate intensely, enabling him to transform without external interference.

The Aura emanating from Chang Yin was too terrifying. The spectators below instinctively retreated dozens of meters, most of their gazes fixed tightly on the arena.

There, two figures stood tall and imposing.

Jiang Yan raised his hand, and seven War Ruins Engravings slowly condensed.

Chang Yin transformed into a beast and charged forward.

Boom!

The arena collapsed, stirring up a cloud of dust.

As the gray haze dispersed, a shattered body lay in the deep pit below.

“Try again tomorrow.”

Jiang Yan said to the man in the pit before turning and leaving.

Chang Yin had exhausted his challenge attempts for the day.

To challenge again, he would have to climb back up to the King Rank Tier.

This wasn’t difficult for him, but it was time-consuming.

Moreover, Chang Yin looked down on the Duel Coins rewarded by the Dueling Arena, which meant—

He was a free laborer.

In the deep pit, Chang Yin could hear the discussions outside.

The spectators were all talking about how formidable Jiang Yan was, then saying that he was all bark and no bite, that they had expected some surprise, but he couldn’t even withstand a single move from Jiang Yan.

These words held no pressure for him because, at this moment, his emotions were completely drained, shattered by Jiang Yan’s punch, leaving him in a state of extreme rationality.

To put it simply, the current Chang Yin was calmer than a pilot who had just landed.

…

Cultivation Chamber.

Battle Space, Wang Tu.

Jiang Yan unleashed seven War Ruins Engravings. Wang Tu’s body became ethereal and distorted, then the colors on its surface grew a few shades brighter.

“My attacks are being absorbed again…”

Jiang Yan murmured, sensing that Wang Tu was chasing him faster and faster. Clearly, his recent attacks were merely charging it up.

“I’ve tried every method of attack, even using Spiritual Power, but aside from charging it up, I can hardly accomplish anything.”

Jiang Yan dodged Wang Tu’s attacks while calmly thinking.

“Where exactly is the problem?”

After continuously charging Wang Tu, Jiang Yan hardly dared to attack it again, fearing it would only grow stronger.

Isn’t that how it always goes in novels and movies? Some BOSSes become stronger the more you fight them, eventually transforming from a minor minion into a major BOSS.

“…”

“No, if my attacks can only charge it up, wouldn’t that mean I can never clear this stage… Or have I fallen into some kind of misconception?”

Jiang Yan narrowed his eyes, carefully observing Wang Tu.

Beneath the black cloak, everything seemed eerie and unfathomable.

“What if I change my approach and insist on charging him up?”

Hesitating and constantly dodging offered no hope of clearing the stage. Rather than that, it was better to take a bold gamble.

“Perhaps what I lack is courage and brute force.”

“Then…”

Jiang Yan fixed his gaze intently on Wang Tu.

His figure rose into the air.

The Chaotic Void Domain expanded, and countless saber gleams coalesced.

“Let me witness your peak!”

“Terminus: Unification!”

Countless saber gleams converged into a single point, and a gray-black Saber Qi plunged straight down.

The heavens and earth were split in two, space trembled, and the terrifying Saber Qi struck Wang Tu. Soon, his body began to fade, drawing endless energy into himself.

Wang Tu seemed to undergo an ultimate sublimation. His cloak fluttered wildly, his half-mask creaked, and his body emitted a cacophony of clattering parts, as if some mechanism had been activated.

In Jiang Yan’s view, Wang Tu’s mechanical puppet-like body began to contort irregularly.

The cloak burned away, the mask shattered, and what met Jiang Yan’s eyes was not the true face he had anticipated, but… a wooden box.

Squeak—squeak—

Dull, wooden cries emanated from the wooden box, sounding deeply unsettling, as if silently chanting some incantation.

Wang Tu disappeared, replaced by the mysterious wooden box on the ground.

“I don’t care what you are, take my Yan Thunder Destruction Slash!”

Jiang Yan continued to swing his saber, slashing at the wooden box.

“Nothing can stop me today!”

Muscles replaced the brain, brute force took over thought.

Qi surged, and countless Saber Qi strikes landed on the wooden box.

The wooden box remained unmoved, and from within came the sounds of gears turning and meshing, as if brewing some great terror.

But Jiang Yan paid no heed. He was already immersed in his own art, unable to extricate himself.

“Yan Thunder Destruction Slash!”

Boom!

The wooden box exploded, and Jiang Yan was annihilated within it.

[System Log Updated]

“You died.”

Jiang Yan: “Well deserved.”

He revived on the spot and, taking advantage of the lingering aftershocks, continued swinging his saber, never tiring of it.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

…

A dense series of collision sounds echoed, clearly indicating Jiang Yan’s attacks had struck something massive.

“Yan Thunder Destruction Slash!”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

…

As the smoke cleared, a massive silhouette emerged.

At first glance, it bore a striking resemblance to Zhuangzhuang from before.

But upon closer inspection, the differences in details were vast.

This puppet was still made of an unknown material. Though it didn’t seem metallic, the impact felt no different.

While resembling Zhuangzhuang, various details also bore traces of Sha Sha and the others.

“Is this… a patchwork monster?”

Thump!

The patchwork monster leaped out of the smoke, heading straight for Jiang Yan to sit on him.

“Zhuangzhuang, don’t think I won’t recognize you just because you got a makeover!”

Jiang Yan swiftly dodged, all too familiar with this move.

Because Zhuangzhuang had crushed him to death with it no less than ten times.

He had almost failed to react just now, not because he was careless.

But because—

This patchwork monster had no red threads controlling it!

So, had the patchwork monster gained consciousness, or was Wang Tu hiding behind, manipulating this puppet?

There was no time to ponder, as Zhuangzhuang’s attacks came again. The crude moves were almost identical to Zhuangzhuang’s, yet faintly carried traces of Sha Sha and the others.

“Yan Thunder Destruction Slash!”

[System Log Updated]

“You triggered [Pandora’s Box], the Stitched Monster is affected by a one-second [Silence] effect.”

Jiang Yan: “Got it!”

[System Log Updated]

“The Stitched Monster triggered its purification mechanism, the Silence Effect is removed.”