Chen Tian appeared before Xie Qing in his complete form. His cheeks were handsome, his hair was black as ink, and his silver eyes shone with intensity. Clad in a silver long robe, his figure had also grown, towering over ten meters tall, like a fully grown adult.
"The real battle," Chen Tian said calmly, "is about to begin."
A silver-white aura began to swirl around his entire body, slowly fragmenting into small pieces that resembled ice crystals, encircling him.
Xie Qing, realizing Chen Tian was now unleashing his full power, also erupted with his own surging aura. Chen Tian's momentum was now on par with his own. Xie Qing couldn't fathom how the opponent had achieved this, but in this state, a single misstep could lead to his downfall.
Chen Tian and Xie Qing locked eyes. Without any constraints, Chen Tian could now attack freely. This current form was achieved by merging three of his professions, a fusion that would render those three professions unusable by him in the future.
Even with his mastery over all professions, he wouldn't be able to access them. This was the price of fusion – fusing everything, including his professions. But great power always demanded a price.
Chen Tian, however, didn't care. With hundreds of professions combined, losing three made no difference.
Enveloped by countless silver-white fragments, he stepped forward, instantly accelerating to sub-light speed.
Xie Qing's eyes snapped open, and he too burst forward with sub-light speed, a velocity even faster than residual light.
In an instant, the void became a place of absolute silence and invisibility.
Within this sub-light void, Chen Tian and Xie Qing collided repeatedly. This sub-light space existed within the void itself, accessible only to players who could achieve sub-light speeds.
Sub-light speed was faster than residual light, akin to light itself – unseen, unheard, untouchable. And within this sub-light space, Chen Tian and Xie Qing continuously clashed.
Chen Tian's fists, imbued with silver-white energy, lunged towards Xie Qing, resembling the vastness of starlight, dotted with glittering specks, flashing with silver-white luminescence.
Xie Qing dodged, simultaneously unleashing a left spinning kick and a right punch. With resounding thuds, the moment Chen Tian and Xie Qing made contact, the entire sub-light space vibrated.
They then reappeared in the void. Chen Tian and Xie Qing lowered their limbs. The silver-white fragments surrounding Chen Tian slowly reassembled, forming a pair of silver-white wings on his back. His hands materialized silver-white blades.
Xie Qing also became serious. The Xie Mie Wheel appeared, splitting open to reveal a bladed staff.
The weapon was nine feet long, with blade-like protrusions along its length, resembling the dorsal fin of a dragon. Blades also extended from both ends, making it appear not entirely like a staff, yet retaining its staff-like form.
Chen Tian's Divine Eyes provided him with information, and he remained expressionless. He knew such a weapon wouldn't be so simple, likely possessing multiple forms. This was within his calculations. He had even predicted how the wheel would transform, and it matched his computations.
As Chen Tian's twin blades materialized, the void fell into absolute silence. This time, neither combatant erupted with sub-light speed, but rather unleashed sub-light level power.
Chen Tian's figure instantly appeared before Xie Qing, his twin blades raining down in rapid succession, trailing blade energy as they descended. Xie Qing parried with his Xie Mie Staff, spinning it rapidly. *Clang, clang* sounds echoed as the clash deflected Chen Tian's blades. Xie Qing then spun his weapon in reverse, instantly disarming Chen Tian.
Chen Tian released his grip and spun his body, catching his blades again and sweeping them horizontally. Xie Qing countered with his own horizontal sweep, and the staff's blades met Chen Tian's blades in a thunderous collision.
The resulting shockwaves spread throughout the void. Both Chen Tian and Xie Qing were pushed back a step. The sheer force of their collision had forced them both to retreat.
An ultimate clash of power resulting in a stalemate? Chen Tian and Xie Qing found it hard to believe. It meant their strengths were still equal.
Chen Tian didn't hesitate and attacked again. What if their strength was equal? As long as he could seize the initiative and find an opening, he would win.
Chen Tian's twin blades danced, unleashing a flurry of slashes, sending dozens of blade energies flying like a storm towards Xie Qing. Xie Qing countered by spinning his Xie Mie Staff, sending out waves of staff shadows.
These shadows shot towards Chen Tian's silver-white blade energies. Chen Tian stepped forward, transforming into a streak of light that lunged towards Xie Qing. Xie Qing also stepped forward, a streak of black light appearing. The two streaks of light collided and shot upwards into the void.
Suddenly, a massive magic array appeared above them, forcing them to halt their ascent. To advance further would exceed their limits. Forcing their way into higher void levels would result in assimilation with the void itself.
Xie Qing understood, and thus they clashed above the void. Chen Tian's twin blades danced, slashing upwards towards Xie Qing.
Xie Qing, however, alternated between the ends of his staff, his hands shifting rapidly. The blades at both ends parried Chen Tian's relentless attacks. He then seized an opportunity with a swift sweep, catching Chen Tian off guard and exposing an opening.
Xie Qing's staff techniques were cunning and agile. The blades at both ends flashed with cold light, descending towards Chen Tian's head. The dual blades converged their attack, and Chen Tian's twin blades worked furiously, sweeping left and right to form a blade barrier. However, this barrier shattered under the onslaught of staff shadows.
Chen Tian's eyes gleamed. He brought his hands together, and his twin blades shattered, merging into a single long sword. He then hurled it forward. A massive, silver-white sword projection struck the Xie Mie Staff, forcing both combatants to retreat.
Xie Qing looked at Chen Tian, amazed that the human's weapon could transform into other forms. He had never heard of such a thing.
Chen Tian let out a breath, and the long sword projection exploded, dissolving into countless fragments that swirled around him.
Then, Chen Tian's eyes lit up as he looked at Xie Qing. The surrounding silver-white fragments began to assemble, forming numerous silver-white longswords around Chen Tian.
This form was achieved by Chen Tian merging three professions, granting him the ability of telekinesis. These fragments were manifestations of his telekinetic power.
Chen Tian could control these telekinetically manifested fragments. His telekinetic power was infinite, zero.
This meant there was no consumption. With a mere thought, countless silver-white longswords surged towards Xie Qing.
Xie Qing recognized Chen Tian's attack pattern instantly. He understood that the opponent was using telekinesis. Facing the myriad of swords, the silver-white blades rained down like a storm. Xie Qing swung his Xie Mie Staff, spinning it to create a massive circular shield. This shield then moved forward, with two more identical shields forming before him, creating a triple layer of black shields that protected Xie Qing. The sword rain struck the shields, causing cracks to appear and spread. The first shield shattered, followed by the second. Chen Tian's light swords numbered in the thousands, even tens of thousands.
As long as his telekinesis remained, he could endlessly generate them. Coupled with the infinite telekinetic power in this form, Chen Tian's silver longswords were seemingly inexhaustible, continuously striking the shields.
The third shield shattered. Xie Qing remained unfazed, showing no signs of panic. Most people would have lost their composure in such a situation.
Xie Qing calmly held the Xie Mie Staff with one hand and performed a 360-degree sweep. Tremendous power and shockwaves erupted, causing Chen Tian's silver longswords to explode and dissipate.
Xie Qing then lunged at Chen Tian, holding the staff in his right hand. Chen Tian, not to be outdone, willed himself to transform into a longsword. He stepped forward, holding a silver longsword in his left hand.
The Xie Mie Staff and the silver longsword clashed, their offense and defense alternating. Chen Tian's sword moved with agile fluidity, seeking an opportunity to stab Xie Qing in the abdomen.
Xie Qing sensed Chen Tian's intent. The blades on both ends of the staff swung, his hands alternating. The staff body blocked Chen Tian's attack. He then shifted position and transformed his attack, swinging with both blades converging onto one end, which enlarged slightly. The entire weapon now resembled a Guandao, as it swung down towards Chen Tian.
Chen Tian horizontally blocked with his silver-white longsword, executing a peculiar maneuver with his arm. With a light flick, *zizzing* sounds emerged. The longsword and staff scraped against each other. Chen Tian then flicked upwards, deflecting the staff and its blades away from its original attack trajectory.
Chen Tian brought his longsword down towards Xie Qing. Seeing this, Xie Qing folded his hands, and the Xie Mie Staff transformed into a nunchaku, albeit a four-sectioned one.
He then swung it like a whip, the ends of the nunchaku lashing out. Chen Tian's longsword was directly flicked away.
Xie Qing then grabbed both ends of the nunchaku, wrapping the staff body around Chen Tian's longsword. With a pull, Chen Tian's silver-white longsword flew from his grasp. The nunchaku struck the longsword, and the sword instantly dissipated.
Chen Tian looked at the nunchaku, astonished. "How many forms does this weapon have?"
He clenched his palm, and twin swords appeared. As long as Chen Tian's telekinesis remained, he could manifest countless weapons. This was the true power of this form.
Xie Qing stared at the twin swords in Chen Tian's hands, then said, "I want to see how many weapons you can use!"
He then swung the nunchaku, which transformed into a black whip, its cracks echoing throughout the void as if striking the void itself.
He swung his right arm, and the whip lashed towards Chen Tian's right side.
Chen Tian crossed his twin swords, and the whip struck them, shattering into two halves.
Chen Tian retreated a few steps, then gripped his hands, and twin blades appeared. These silver-white blades were now thinner, but facing Xie Qing's whip, Chen Tian's dual blades danced. With a peculiar movement, the whip's impact was absorbed when it collided with the blades.
Chen Tian then spun around and threw his twin blades towards Xie Qing's whip.
"An inch longer, an inch stronger." Since the opponent's weapon was a whip, Chen Tian naturally wouldn't use melee weapons. He gripped his right hand, and twin pistols appeared in his grasp, silver-white in color.
He pulled the triggers, and two silver-white energy bullets shot towards Xie Qing.
Xie Qing froze, astonished. Could this youth even create such weapons? He then spun his arm, and the whip formed into coils. The energy bullets struck them with no effect, exploding. Chen Tian continuously fired.
The dual pistols, the weapons of a Gunslinger. Chen Tian's mastery over all professions meant using dual pistols was not surprising. Gunslingers were a branch of gun-wielding professions in the Era of Time, referring to handguns, not melee spears.
Many players confused Gunslingers with Spear-wielders, but they were distinct professional branches with different characteristics.
Gunslingers excelled in ranged attacks, with high attack volume and speed, but low individual damage. However, their sheer volume and rapid fire made them popular among gun-wielding classes.
The more attacks, the more damage, even if the individual damage was low. What about hundreds or thousands of bullets? Billions, tens of billions?
The saying "many ants can kill an elephant" applied here. Chen Tian continuously pulled the triggers, firing countless energy bullets that surrounded Xie Qing. But Xie Qing swung his whip.
Instantly, the void erupted, and all the energy bullets exploded. Xie Qing looked at Chen Tian, and the whip transformed back into the Xie Mie Staff, with a spearhead extending from its tip, forming a spear.
Chen Tian's energy bullets approached Xie Qing, who swung the spearhead, creating a spear aura that sliced the energy bullets in half before they exploded. He then charged towards Chen Tian.
Chen Tian's lips curled as Xie Qing approached. Melee was the best counter for players with ranged abilities, as it was their weakness.
But Chen Tian was no ordinary player. The energy bullets he fired were continuously sliced and exploded by Xie Qing's spear. Xie Qing reached Chen Tian in an instant. Chen Tian's lips curled again; he had already calculated this spear's trajectory.
Xie Qing thrust his spear towards Chen Tian. Chen Tian extended his dual pistols, and blades emerged from their barrels, transforming into twin swords.
Facing Xie Qing's spear thrust, he swung his twin swords, crossing them and locking onto the spearhead. With a sweep of his arms, Xie Qing's dual pistols flew from his grasp. Xie Qing reacted, realizing he had fallen into a trap. Chen Tian's twin swords were now aimed at his neck.
In a critical moment, Xie Qing swung his hands, and two light wheels shot towards Chen Tian from both sides. Chen Tian had no choice but to abandon his attack and raise his twin swords.
He retreated, tossing his dual swords away as the light wheels flew past. Xie Qing appeared in the sky, catching the wheels, and the Xie Mie Wheel reappeared in his hand.
He then threw the wheel, and countless black blade thorns shot out, spinning towards Chen Tian. Chen Tian's dual swords shattered into countless silver-white fragments. These fragments slowly transformed into small, silver-white arrows, and a sky full of arrows shot towards Xie Qing's Xie Mie Wheel.
The collision of light blade thorns and arrows created a battlefield like a starry sky, resembling laser beams clashing.
Xie Qing's eyes changed. The light wheels fused together, forming a massive light ring that absorbed all of Chen Tian's attacks.
Then, black light beams shot out from the light ring. Chen Tian waved his hand, and a silver-white shield materialized before him.
The black light beams struck the shield, creating dents. The shield then exploded, but Chen Tian crossed his arms and pulled, unleashing a massive silver-white cross.
An explosion resounded, and Chen Tian rolled, narrowly avoiding the light ring as it grazed his head and body.
He activated his "Extreme Dodge," narrowly evading this fatal attack. If his Divine Eyes hadn't captured the trajectory of Xie Qing's Xie Mie Wheel, he would have been sliced in half.
Chen Tian stabilized himself and looked at Xie Qing. Xie Qing flicked his arm, and the Xie Mie Wheel re-merged with his arm. The two sides of the wheel now extended from his arms like blades.
Then, Xie Qing charged towards Chen Tian. Chen Tian, seeing his intent, manifested silver Divine Ice longswords on his arms and began to swing them.
They clashed once more, then separated. Chen Tian's weapon had now adopted Divine Ice, increasing its strength.
Chen Tian observed Xie Qing's weapon, and his Divine Eyes provided information: this was likely the final form.
Chen Tian felt a more terrifying power emanating from Xie Qing. Xie Qing, on the other hand, looked at Chen Tian with determination. He needed to recover from his injuries and end this quickly.
Moreover, his current actions would surely be exposed, and the consequences were unimaginable. He had to end the battle swiftly, before they became aware.
Chen Tian and Xie Qing collided once again. Chen Tian's Divine Ice silver longswords were now infused with Divine Fire. As he swung the Divine Fire longsword, the void seemed to be painted in shades of blue and purple.
Xie Qing moved his arms, and the blades on them crossed and collided with the longsword. Chen Tian's jabs, stabs, slashes, and cuts were executed with exquisite skill, his attacks relentless. But Xie Qing was not to be outdone. His arms moved, parrying Chen Tian's assaults while still finding opportunities to attack.
The blades on his arms descended like guillotines towards Chen Tian. Chen Tian lightly flicked his sword upwards, deflecting the blades. He then swept horizontally, and Xie Qing blocked with his arm. Chen Tian's sword shifted, then spun, twisting his body into a spinning thrust.
Xie Qing was stunned. He crossed his arms, blocking the sword tip. Then, with full force, he threw himself forward, his crossed blades spreading open, launching the longsword.
Chen Tian and Xie Qing retreated a few steps. Chen Tian released his longsword, and silver-white energy coalesced within it. With a pull of his hands, one longsword became two, then three, splitting continuously. Thousands of silver Divine Ice longswords appeared behind Chen Tian.
Chen Tian pushed forward, and countless longswords transformed into beams of light, shooting towards Xie Qing. Xie Qing's arm blades glowed with a terrifying black and red light. He then swung his arms repeatedly.
Huge black and red blades shot out towards Chen Tian's sword rain. This round had clearly become a skill-based confrontation.
Chen Tian's sword rain and the blade attacks clashed, resulting in explosions. Chen Tian then shifted his longswords, causing them to spin and form a circular shield. A beam of sword rain shot towards Xie Qing.
Xie Qing clapped his arm blades together, and a light sphere appeared before them. A black and red light sphere shot out towards Chen Tian's beam.
The beam and sphere collided, an explosion echoing, and shockwaves rippling outwards, causing the entire void to tremble.
Chen Tian was stunned. The weapon skills of his opponent were so powerful. What kind of weapon was this?
Then, his longsword transformed into a long saber. He swung the saber, and terrifying shockwaves swirled around him. Projections of these shockwave sabers shot out.
The skills Chen Tian used were all technique-based, not true skills. True skills had phenomena. The attacks Chen Tian was currently unleashing were merely combinations of techniques, arguably skills, but pseudo-skills. Creating true skills was too difficult. Chen Tian had been trying continuously since earlier, but the absence of electronic prompts proved his failure.
Xie Qing looked at the approaching saber projections. He drew a circle with his arms, then plunged his arm blades into the center of the circle. A black and red energy wave shot out, instantly engulfing Chen Tian's saber projections.
The energy wave swallowed the saber projections and surged towards Chen Tian. Chen Tian reacted. In this state, he had no professional skills and could only create his own. But his previous attempts had yielded no prompts, indicating failure. Facing the incoming attack, Chen Tian activated "Extreme Dodge." Since "Extreme Dodge" transformed from a skill to an ability, it could be used at any time without a cooldown.
In this state, Chen Tian could not use other self-created skills. However, he could use his innate abilities, such as Divine Ice and Divine Fire.
Telekinesis was the most powerful aspect of this form. This was also a drawback of the fusion system.