infodatos Chapter 83 Clockwork Swordsman, Advancing to Crimson Earl
Chapter 83 Clockwork Swordsman, Advancing to Crimson Earl
Chapter 83 Clockwork Swordsman, Advancing to Crimson Earl
Seizing the opening left by his opponent's shock, Tang Wangshu finished him off with a single Flame Seal. Only then did he turn to look at Lin Ze, a hint of amazement and thoughtfulness flashing in his eyes.
"Team leader, what skill did you just use—the same one as last time?"
She remembered that a few months ago, Lin Ze had mentioned that he had used a temporary power-up skill to kill Jiang Lei.
"Hmm." Lin Ze nodded slightly.
However, in reality, he had simply stopped deliberately suppressing his strength and completely unleashed his power.
However, we can indeed use "explosive skill" as an excuse in the future.
After all, while such temporary enhancement skills are rare, they do exist and shouldn't arouse suspicion.
Upon confirming his guess, Tang Wangshu's eyes lit up with realization, followed by a flash of admiration.
When Lin Ze was level 3, he was able to kill level 4 professionals, which seems similar to his current level 4 killing level 5 professionals, but the difference in their significance is completely different.
After all, the gap between professional levels is getting bigger and bigger. Being able to kill a level 5 professional head-on with the strength of a level 4 is probably a unique achievement in the entire Red Lotus City.
Lin Ze didn't say much and continued to attack the other enemies.
After Lin Ze's "burst of power", the legion's side essentially gained an additional level 5 combat power.
In contrast, Blood Eagle and Cliff are missing Qian Chong, a level 5 combatant.
With this shift in balance, the scales of victory gradually tipped in favor of the legion.
"Qin Lie, you're doomed!"
While controlling the skeleton warriors to attack Qin Lie, Fan Zhenyue shouted coldly.
"Just surrender and stop struggling."
Qin Lie cleaved a skeleton warrior in two with a single axe stroke, then grinned upon hearing this, showing no sign of panic.
"Old Fan, it's too early to talk big. It's still uncertain who will win or lose."
Fan Zhenyue frowned, somewhat surprised and suspicious.
Through the Legion's intelligence network, he was certain that Duan Ya had only sent Qin Lie and his men into the Northern District, and had no other hidden personnel.
The Blood Eagle's top executives and officers were also here.
Qin Lie couldn't possibly have any other reinforcements, so where did the other side get the confidence to say such things?
Or is he just being stubborn?
"Making a big fuss!"
Fan Zhenyue snorted coldly and was about to intensify his attack when he saw Qin Lie suddenly withdraw and retreat.
Immediately afterwards, four figures appeared out of thin air in front of him.
The four figures, draped in dark gray robes, were tall, easily over two meters in height, and their mere presence exuded an eerie sense of oppression.
Qin Lie curled his lips into a sinister smile and snapped his fingers.
Whoosh!
The four robes slipped off at the same time, revealing what lay beneath.
Those were four strange humanoid creatures.
Their bodies gleamed with a bronze-like luster, reflecting the cold, hard texture unique to metal. Their limbs and torsos were studded with countless rivets, like some kind of creation from the industrial age.
They each held a slender, lace-sword in their hands, its blade gleaming coldly.
What's most striking is what's behind them.
There was a huge brass spring mechanism there, slowly turning and making a "click-clack" mechanical sound.
"puppet?"
Luo Du and Pan De were also attracted by the commotion and were somewhat puzzled upon seeing it.
Puppet is a general term for combat dolls created by puppeteers.
They are fearless of death, tireless, and insensitive to pain; they obey orders without question and are highly effective fighting tools.
But that's about it.
They are not much different in essence from the corpse soldiers of the lich and the skeleton warriors of the bone whisperer.
With only four puppets, where did Qin Lie get the confidence to say he could change the situation?
Fan Zhenyue, however, frowned deeply.
He recognized the puppets.
"The Clockwork Swordsman, huh?"
One of the highest-ranking officers at the Cliff is a Level 7 Puppeteer, capable of creating puppets with Level 6 strength. These Clockwork Swordsmen are his creations.
Although Fan Zhenyue had never seen one in person, he had heard his colleagues mention such puppets.
In fact, the so-called Level 6 rating is largely exaggerated.
As everyone knows, puppets have no skills or talents, and their combat power is far inferior to that of professionals of the same level.
Although it's called a level 6 puppet, some top level 5 professionals can easily defeat it in a one-on-one fight.
Without the puppeteer's own skills, the puppet's combat power would be weakened by another level.
In other words, without the puppeteer's control, these level 6 puppets are probably not as powerful as a typical level 5 professional.
Four puppets might be able to salvage the situation for the cliffside side, but to say that they would guarantee their victory is unrealistic.
Where did Qin Lie get his confidence?
"Old Fan, you have a good eye."
Qin Lie grinned, turned his back, pointed the giant axe downwards, and forcefully slammed it into the ground with a crack. Then, he proudly spread his arms wide.
"However, these are not ordinary clockwork swordsmen, but the latest research results of our guild."
"Perfect, I'll use you guys to test things out today and collect experimental data."
Latest research findings?
A bad feeling instantly welled up in Fan Zhenyue's heart.
Before he could react, the four clockwork swordsmen suddenly moved.
Their movements were swift and decisive, like streaks of bronze lightning, instantly plunging them into the battlefield.
One of the clockwork swordsmen charged toward a special operations team leader, his waving sword transforming into three afterimages as he thrust out like a venomous snake.
"Triple Slash?!"
The team leader's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly raised his sword to block.
Dangdang Dangdang!
Three sharp clangs of metal rang out almost simultaneously.
The team leader was so shocked that he staggered backward, his arms went numb, and his eyes were filled with horror.
At the same time, other members of the special operations team were also attacked by the Clockwork Swordsman.
"Layered Waves? How is that possible?!"
"This is a swift slash!"
"Impossible, how can a puppet use skills?"
"Watch out... Ah!!"
The entire legion was shocked.
These puppets can actually use skills?!
Moreover, judging from the precision of their sword strikes, their timing, and the connection of their sword moves, they seem to have mastered a talent for swordsmanship!
This is unheard of!
Fan Zhenyue's face instantly turned ashen.
With the addition of skills and talents, even with just ordinary skills, the combat power of a puppet is suddenly much closer to that of a professional.
Even without the puppeteer's skill enhancement, these clockwork swordsmen already possessed peak level 5 combat power.
As they joined the battlefield, our own casualties increased rapidly.
The situation suddenly turned around!
Now it's the legion's turn to be at a disadvantage!
"Damn it—"
Fan Zhenyue finally realized what was happening.
If Qin Lie had brought out these puppets from the beginning, he would have ordered a retreat without hesitation.
But now that everyone has been fighting fiercely for a long time and is quite exhausted, it is difficult for them to withdraw.
This was Qin Lie's purpose.
This guy is going to leave them all here!
Unfortunately, by then it was too late to realize this.
Four clockwork swordsmen charged into the legion's ranks like killing machines, and screams echoed wherever they went.
Fan Zhenyue wanted to take action and eliminate these clockwork swordsmen, but Qin Lie stopped him with a sinister smile.
"Hahaha, Old Ghost Fan, do you still think you've got this in the bag?"
Qin Lie laughed wildly, swinging his giant axe even more violently.
Fan Zhenyue's face was ashen as he desperately tried to control the skeleton warriors to defend himself, but his heart was ice-cold.
Am I really going to fail here today?
Perhaps because of his previous outstanding performance, a clockwork swordsman locked onto Lin Ze and charged towards him with heavy steps.
Its movements appear clumsy, but are actually extremely fast. Skills such as Triple Slash, Swift Slash, and Wave Strike are used with ease and seamlessly connected.
Puppets have no stamina limitations, do not get tired, and do not need to breathe. Once they master the skills, they can use them more quickly and smoothly than professionals.
Lin Ze was forced to retreat repeatedly, appearing to be at a complete disadvantage.
But in reality, if he went all out, he could easily defeat this clockwork swordsman.
But he doesn't intend to do that.
On the one hand, it is too early to reveal our full strength now.
on the other hand...
Lin Ze glanced at the ground out of the corner of his eye.
The battlefield was littered with corpses, and blood stained the ground, pooling into dark red puddles.
Amidst the clamor and chaos of the fierce battle, no one noticed that the blood was slowly evaporating, rising into an extremely thin, almost imperceptible mist, drifting slowly in a certain direction as if it were alive.
At the end of the square, on the rooftop of the main building.
This place should have been empty, but now there is a figure here.
Dongzhi stood quietly on the edge of the rooftop, looking down at the battlefield below.
He was wearing a long black trench coat, the hem of which fluttered gently in the breeze, and an elegant smile played on his lips.
The crimson mist drifting from the battlefield seemed to be summoned and gathered around him.
The color of the mist gradually deepened from pale red to a deep crimson, eventually transforming into strands of pure blood that slowly seeped into his body.
He closed his eyes and let out a satisfied sigh.
"What a wonderful feast!"
The murmurs drifted away in the wind.
When Dongzhi opened his eyes, golden characters in the void were reflected in his scarlet eyes.
You have completed the advanced trial of "Count Crimson".
From the very beginning of the war, he had been secretly collecting blood.
Now, they have finally gathered the blood of one hundred professionals and completed the advanced trial.
After absorbing the last trace of blood mist into his body, Dongzhi closed his eyes and silently recited a prayer.
"Advanced".
In an instant, the surrounding sounds suddenly became exceptionally distant.
The sounds of wind, distant battles, and the clanging of metal halberds gradually faded away.
Instead, a different voice, closer to the origin of life, has emerged.
That's the sound of blood flowing.
He could hear the rhythm of the blood surging through his veins.
With each heartbeat, the rhythm became deeper and slower, yet more powerful, like an ancient war drum resounding deep within the chest.
At the same time, the temperature of the blood is also rising.
It wasn't scorching, but a warm, viscous heat that contained the essence of life.
During the winter solstice, one can clearly feel that every drop of blood in one's body is awakening and activating.
They are no longer simply liquids that transport nutrients, but have become something that exists between matter and energy.
New blood cells are generated at a rate far exceeding human limits, each one fuller and containing a richer life energy.
The microstructure of the bones is rearranged to form a crystal-like network that can better store and conduct energy from the blood.
The surface of muscle fibers grows a dense, capillary-like network of branches, which become secondary cavities for storing blood.
The valves between the ventricles and atria became more precise, increasing the efficiency of blood pumping several times over, and the inner wall of the heart was covered with a thin, ruby-like crystalline membrane.
The liver, kidneys, spleen—all organs related to metabolism, detoxification, and hematopoiesis are evolving in a completely new direction.
They are no longer merely tools for sustaining life, but have become part of the "blood system".
As the transformation was completed, Dongzhi discovered that her perception and control over her blood had reached a completely new level.
Previously, he manipulated blood as if he were trying to grasp water with his hands. He could do it, but there were always gaps and losses, and there were always subtle details he couldn't reach.
But now.
Blood became a natural extension of his will.
Just like breathing, blinking, and thinking... controlling blood has become an instinct.
He could even sense the blood flow within every living thing on the battlefield.
You can hear the sound of blood rushing through your veins, smell the strength of the life force contained in the blood, and feel the temperature and viscosity of the blood.
Within a radius of one kilometer, everything related to blood is clearly visible in his sensory network.
This kind of control goes beyond manipulation or control; it is a kind of domination in essence.
Just like when he advanced to the Ultimate Slaughter Sword and the Martial Artist, at this moment, Winter Solstice seemed to glimpse the end of the Blood Walker's career path—that boundless territory belonging to the five-star class [Eternal Blood Abyss], composed of pure blood laws.
There, blood is truth, power, and eternity itself.
But this fleeting insight lasted only a few seconds before receding like the tide.
Winter Solstice slowly opens its eyes.
A deep crimson hue slowly settled from the depths of his pupils, eventually transforming into two ruby-like points of light, hidden deep within his eyes.
His skin became paler, but not in a sickly way; rather, it had a cool, white quality like fine bone china.
Her temperament has also undergone subtle changes.
The original elegance now carries an inhuman, almost eerie sense of nobility.
That is the natural pressure emanating from the elevated form of life.
He gently raised his right hand, palm facing up.
A drop of blood slowly seeped from under the skin of his palm, hovering above his palm, changing shape with his will.
It transforms into fine blood vessels.
Woven into exquisite roses.
It dispersed and reformed, coalescing into a small, blood-red dagger.
Finally, it collapsed again, returning to a perfect drop of blood.
The whole process was smooth and seamless, without the slightest hesitation.
"I see. Advancing to the rank of Crimson Earl will also change the essence of life."
"I'm starting to resemble the vampires from fantasy legends more and more."
Winter Solstice chuckled softly, gazing at the empty space ahead.
The dense, golden text flowed down like a waterfall in the field of vision.
【你成功进阶为猩红伯爵」，力量+1.8、敏捷+1.8、体质+1.8、精神+2.8、感知+2.2】
[Your skill Blood Manipulation Lv10 (Excellent)] is upgraded to Blood Domination Lv1 (Rare) (Your control over blood is greatly enhanced, with significantly increased range, precision, and power, and new ways to use blood are unlocked), Constitution +0.1, Spirit +0.3, Perception +0.3.
[Your skill Blood Frenzy Lv4 (Excellent)] advances to Crimson Avatar Lv1 (Rare) (Your body completely transforms into a pure blood form. In this state, you cannot manipulate the blood of others, but your utilization of your own blood is greatly increased. All attributes are enhanced, and the power of blood-related skills is greatly increased. When your own blood is depleted, the avatar state will end.) Constitution +0.2, Spirit +0.4, Perception +0.1
Your skill Shadow Cloak Lv10 (Normal) has been upgraded to Shadow Stealth Lv1 (Excellent) (You can move and leap at high speed in the shadows. In this state, you are immune to all physical attacks, but cannot launch attacks). Spirit +0.2, Perception +0.1
[You have mastered the skill Shadow Cluster Lv1 (Excellent)] (You can transform your body into a cluster of shadowy figures resembling bats, with life force evenly distributed. As long as at least one bat survives, you can revert to your original form.) Agility +0.1, Constitution +0.1, Spirit +0.2.
[Your talent, Moonwalker (Excellent), advances to Child of the Night (Rare) (At night, your attributes are comprehensively enhanced, and your injury recovery speed is accelerated), Constitution +0.1, Spirit +0.4]
[You have mastered the talent High-Speed Regeneration (Rare)] (Your injury recovery speed is greatly increased. Unless vital organs such as the head and heart are completely destroyed, no injury can kill you. This talent consumes your own blood when it is active.) Constitution +0.4
Spirit +0.1
[You have mastered the talent Blood Embrace (Rare)] (You can absorb the blood of others to heal yourself and restore your stamina, but you cannot restore your own blood), Constitution +0.3, Spirit +0.2
After reading the last word, Lin Ze took a deep breath, and a genuine smile of joy spread across his face.
As expected, after advancing to Crimson Earl, his skills and talents underwent a complete upgrade.
Just by looking at the descriptions of their effects, you can tell how powerful these skills and talents are.
The attributes have seen a significant surge.
Name: Winter Solstice Occupation: Scarlet Earl Rank: 6
【属性】：力量28.0、敏捷29.2、体质28.5、精神25.2（+5.0）、感知22.4
【技能】：猩红化身Lv1（0/1000）、鲜血支配Lv1（0/1000）、阴影潜行Lv1（0/100）、暗影集群Lv1（0/100）、背刺Lv1（0/100）
[Talents]: Child of Eternal Night, Thermal Vision, Shadow Affinity, High-Speed Regeneration, Blood Embrace, Silent Steps, Dagger Mastery. With the talent boost from the Overclocked Soul, his mental attribute broke through 30 points first, allowing him to directly advance to a Level 6 professional.
Strength, agility, and constitution follow closely behind, just one or two points away from reaching level 6.
Even the weakest attribute, perception, has caught up, significantly narrowing the gap with other attributes.
The advancement of the Crimson Earl brings comprehensive attribute enhancements.
Even without looking at the panel data, Dongzhi could feel that his strength had increased dramatically.
"Next, it's time to test the specific effects of the skills and talents."
"We happen to have some good test subjects right now."
On the winter solstice, gazing at the distant battlefield, a flash of blood-red light appeared in his eyes.