Chapter 54: Another Shaye
Whether it was a magic manual or a Battle Qi technique, the principle of cultivation remained the same:
Easy in the beginning, increasingly difficult as you progressed.
The higher the tier, the greater the challenge.
Star Flame, the Battle Qi technique Ekaterina practiced, was one of the highest-tier techniques in the Heavenly Continent. Very few techniques surpassed it in power, and its difficulty was legendary.
Firstly, talent alone disqualified most aspiring practitioners. Star Flame demanded exceptional aptitude.
Qin Chu had no issues in that regard. His talent had been amplified after his rebirth.
But even with his prodigious talent and his past life’s experience, mastering the first layer in a single afternoon was already pushing his limits. Reaching the second layer would normally take at least a month.
However, during his… encounter… with Ekaterina, he had felt her fiery Battle Qi surging into his body, stimulating his own weaker energy, accelerating its circulation, its volume increasing with each cycle.
In just three hours, he had almost reached the threshold of the second layer.
Even now, his body hummed with residual energy.
He wouldn’t waste this opportunity. He closed his eyes, focusing his mind, guiding the chaotic energy within him, channeling it into his Battle Origin, attempting to break through to the next level.
Waves of heat radiated from his body.
The temperature in the room rose steadily. The moonlight, streaming through the window, shimmered and distorted in the heated air.
His skin, flushed crimson, resembled a heated iron. Wisps of steam rose from his head. Power, raw and untamed, surged beneath his skin, his muscles bulging and contorting.
Almost there… just a little more…
His breath, hot and heavy, turned into flickering flames.
Not enough…
He could sense the barrier, the final obstacle separating him from the next level. But he couldn’t break through.
Every pore in his body opened, drawing in the ambient elemental energy. He became the eye of a storm, a vortex of swirling energy, absorbing the power around him.
The curtains billowed, the magical chandelier swayed, though there was no wind in the room.
If he didn’t have his past life’s experience, he would have patiently absorbed the ambient energy, a slow and arduous process that could take a week or more.
But now, he knew what he needed. A surge of potent energy, a catalyst to shatter the barrier.
Loseweisse’s generous gift: the Saint Quartz.
He retrieved three pieces from a storage ring.
With a series of sharp cracks, he crushed them simultaneously. The Saint Quartz’s energy, pure and potent, erupted outwards, filling the room, creating a miniature energy storm.
He stood at the storm’s center, the floor beneath him cracking under the strain. The energy surged into his Battle Origin, expanding its capacity.
…
Meanwhile, Shaye, hovering in mid-air, observed Qin Chu’s progress, a knowing smile on her lips.
He might not understand why Ekaterina had lost control, but she knew.
The Stunning Love she had given him was a modified version… but not the true Stunning Love.
She had added her own twist, infusing it with a touch of her Lust Authority, amplifying its potency.
The Lust Authority, combined with the alcohol’s effects, had induced a powerful hallucination, making Ekaterina mistake Qin Chu for Jie Luo.
It had also amplified her emotions, her love for Jie Luo magnified to an overwhelming degree.
These factors had led to the events of the previous night.
And Qin Chu’s surge in power was also a consequence of the Lust Authority. Super-tier Abilities were complex, each possessing unique and often unpredictable effects.
The stronger he became, the more she recovered.
She didn’t know what their relationship would become once she regained her independence, but for now, his strength was her strength.
Another Shaye wouldn’t tolerate her existence. Only one of them could remain in this world.
But it seemed her potion-making skills needed improvement.
Though Ekaterina had reacted as expected, she had almost regained her senses several times. Shaye had intervened, subtly manipulating her thoughts, keeping her mind clouded.
She needed to analyze the potion, to identify the flaws. She wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
…
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window.
Qin Chu sat motionless, his body still, his breathing shallow.
Then, his eyes snapped open, flames erupting from them for a moment before disappearing.
He stood up, his hair standing on end, sparks dancing among the strands.
He had finally reached the second layer.
He checked his status panel.
Level: 39
Class: Hero
Strength: 209
Stamina: 142
Agility: 163
Spirit: 432
Defense: 154
Charm: 6
His Strength had increased by thirty, Stamina by twenty, Agility by ten, and Defense by ten.
Mastering Battle Qi techniques directly enhanced physical attributes. Though it wasn’t as efficient as Devourer, it was still a valuable method of improvement.
He sensed someone outside his door.
He closed his eyes, calming his aura, suppressing his Battle Qi to the first layer, then opened the door.
Angelica stood outside, holding a set of clothes, a towel, a toothbrush, and other toiletries.
She had been waiting for him.
But her expression… she looked like she was about to cry.
Despite her distress, she helped him wash and change, her movements gentle and efficient.
“What’s wrong? Did someone bully you?” he asked, his words muffled by the toothbrush.
“No one bullied Angelica, Master,” she replied softly, handing him a cup of water.
But her trembling lips betrayed her emotions.
She knew her master’s personality. He was cunning, even a little cruel. He had witnessed her suffering, remaining hidden until she had attempted suicide.
He was suspicious, distrustful.
She didn’t know what he had endured, but he trusted no one.
Not Wadsworth, not Augustus, not Saint Monique, not the bold Ekaterina, not even the gentle Loseweisse…
She was the only one he truly trusted.
The thought filled her with a strange sense of pride. She was special to him.
But then she frowned, her cheeks puffing out in frustration.
She was pathetic.
She had felt resentment towards him, but the knowledge that he trusted her had diminished those feelings.
Angelica, Angelica… have some self-respect!
She needed to remind him who was truly closest to him.
She forced a frown, trying to convey her displeasure. “Master… last night… you and… and Lady Ekaterina… you… you…”
Qin Chu froze, swallowing his toothpaste. “How did you know?”
“Nikles and the others were talking about it…”
Damn it!
Those gossipmongers!
They had taken his money and were still spreading rumors.
Angelica blushed, her fingers twisting the hem of her maid uniform. “Master… you’ve never… done those things… with Angelica…”
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