Cloud-Cluster Sword

However, Bai Xiaowen wasn't sure if Matsuura Shin Kuro's katana being stolen, forcing him to use a spare, would negatively impact his score. He didn't bother thinking about it too much and simply drew a card.

Although Li Shuyi made the absolute Kill Contribution to the kill of Matsuura Shin Kuro, Bai Xiaowen, as a teammate, had no problem opening boxes and drawing cards.

Only Li Shuyi can pick up and distribute the loot drawn. However, even if it is Bind on Pickup equipment, Li Shuyi can distribute it to Bai Xiaowen. Since the two are in the same permanent team, they can share bound equipment that they haven't worn or used yet, which is one of the advantages of a permanent team.

With his first gold card, Bai Xiaowen drew the Mysterious Short Sword.

[Cloud-Cluster Sword (Bind on Pickup)]

[Quality: Special]

[Equipment Slot: One-Handed]

[Equipment Requirement: Approval of the Cloud-Cluster Sword]

[Attribute: Additional Attack Power 1~3]

[Additional Skill 1: Weakening: Each effective attack has a chance to inflict a weakening effect on the target, which can stack.]

[Additional Skill 2: Sacrifice: After Vital Strike, you can perform a sacrifice, sacrificing your lifespan to induce Instant-Death Check on the target. If the target survives the Instant-Death Check, they will be stunned instead; otherwise, they will die instantly. Note: This skill is only effective against enemies whose level is not higher than yours, and the target enemy's template must not be higher than yours.]

[Durability: Never wears out]

[Note: The Heavenly Cloud Sword of Atsuta Shrine is one of the three sacred treasures enshrined in Japan, and is also the foremost of the three legendary swords.]

Li Shuyi tried to touch the short sword, but received a notification that she could not equip it because she had not received "the approval of the Cloud-Cluster Sword".

Li Shuyi assigned the short sword to Bai Xiaowen, but there was no indication that it could not be equipped. This means that Bai Xiaowen possesses the "approval of the Cloud-Cluster Sword".

"That's strange. Why would a summoner with Mental Specialty manipulation like you gain the approval of this weapon?" Li Shuyi asked.

Bai Xiaowen breathed a sigh of relief, "This should be related to the Kusanagi Sword Soul within me."

"After obtaining the sword spirit of the Kusanagi Sword, I looked up some information about Kusanagi Sword," Bai Xiaowen said. "There's still some time before Qi Jiguang persuades the remaining Wokou Pirates to surrender, so I'll just tell you some legends about the Cloud-Cluster Sword and the Kusanagi Sword first."

"In the mythological era of Japan, there were three sacred swords, named Ten-Grasp Sword, Cloud-Cluster Sword, and Futsunomitama Sword."

"The origin of the Cloud-Cluster Sword- Susanoo, the son of a god, after slaying the Yamata no Orochi. Legend has it that Susanoo was traveling among humans when he saw an old man weeping, saying that his daughter had been sacrificed to the Orochi. Susanoo comforted the old man and helped him slay the serpent. Susanoo got the Yamata no Orochi -Ten-Grasp Sword. At the serpent's tail, he encountered something sharp, and even the Ten-Grasp Sword of the gods was chipped."

"This object that damaged the Ten-Grasp Sword is a sharp sword. Because it was taken from the body of the Yamata no Orochi, and the Yamata no Orochi was incredibly tall with its head reaching into the clouds, this sword is called the ' Cloud-Cluster Sword ' in ' Heavenly Cloud Sword ' is an honorific title for it."

"Later, Susanoo offered the Heavenly Cloud Sword to his sister, Amaterasu. Amaterasu bestowed this sword, along with two other sacred treasures, upon the Emperor of Japan, leaving a warning that these three treasures should be worshipped as Incarnation of her."

At this point, Bai Xiaowen paused, then smiled and said, "The Three Sacred Treasures... Sound familiar? That's right, the King of Fighters Universe also revolves around the Three Sacred Treasures and the struggle against Orochi. These three treasures are: the Yata Mirror, the Eight-Jeweled Yasakani Magatama, and the Kusanagi Sword."

Li Shuyi realized. "The Kusanagi Sword is the same as the Heavenly Cloud Sword?"

Bai Xiaowen nodded.

At this moment, Bai Xiaowen had already received a notification from the Spirit Realm Rules:

"You have obtained the Mysterious Short Sword that wounded Yu Dayou: the Cloud-Cluster Sword."

Special side quest: The Search for the Sword has been completed.

"Yu Dayou's Affection Level towards you will increase significantly, and the Affection Level level will be upgraded to: Friend."

"Yu Dayou's Affection Level towards you will increase significantly, and the Affection Level level will be upgraded to: Best Friend."

Bai Xiaowen understood that the reward for this special side quest was likely Yu Dayou's Affection Level. Thinking about it, it made sense; when Bai Xiaowen went to sea, his stated purpose was to avenge Yu Dayou. How could Yu Dayou remain unmoved by such a display of loyalty and righteousness?

Zhang Ting and the other captains, including the two hundred personal guards previously under Hu Zongxian, were all handed over to Qi Jiguang, essentially returning to the Anti-Wokou Ming Army pirate system. Bai Xiaowen didn't need to worry about their safety. Next, they would return to Hu Zongxian and Yu Dayou's side, bringing news of Matsuura Shin Kuro's death.

Yu Dayou's Affection Level for Bai Xiaowen was so strong that they could be considered close friends.

This can be considered a gain, although the chances of being matched with the Jiajing Plane World in the future might be relatively small. Bai Xiaowen didn't really value the mission rewards; for him, the Cloud-Cluster Sword was the best reward.

The Spirit Realm Rules indicated. "Kusanagi Sword (Form I) has been detected within you, resonating with the Cloud-Cluster Sword."

"You can choose to absorb the Cloud-Cluster Sword to strengthen the Kusanagi Sword (Form I). Alternatively, you can choose not to absorb it and retain the special equipment Cloud-Cluster Sword."

"Of course, we should choose to devour it."

Bai Xiaowen had read the description of the Cloud-Cluster Sword. Apart from its ridiculously low attack power, the Cloud-Cluster Sword's selling point lay in its two additional skills.

The first skill, which weakens the opponent, is somewhat useful, as it applies a weakening effect to attacks. However, this sword can only be used by Bai Xiaowen; Li Shuyi cannot use it. Given Bai Xiaowen's attack speed and fighting style... it's not suitable for him.

The second skill, Sacrifice, looks very powerful, with an Instant-Death Check, making it incredibly strong. However, there are two restrictions: the target enemy's level and template cannot be higher than Bai Xiaowen's for the Sacrifice skill to take effect.

She looks perfect, but feels bony to the touch.

First, this sword is useless against lords because their stats are too high. Second, this sword is also useless against Boss Tier whose level is higher than Bai Xiaowen's, and almost every leader Bai Xiaowen encounters in the Boss Tier Spirit Realm is a higher level than him!

As for Boss Tier of the same or lower rank as Bai Xiaowen... why would Bai Xiaowen need to waste his lifespan and perform a sacrifice? He could simply defeat them by fighting them directly.

In short, the Cloud-Cluster Sword is an item for easily defeating weaker opponents, not for turning the tide of a losing game.

After Bai Xiaowen chose to devour it, the crimson light of the Cloud-Cluster Sword flashed, then transformed into a stream of light that poured into Bai Xiaowen's body.

Bai Xiaowen felt a surge of heat, and then noticed that the text "Kusanagi Sword (Form I)" in the skill bar had turned gray, indicating that it was absorbing upgrades.

Not knowing how long the upgrade would take, Bai Xiaowen and Li Shuyi used up their remaining two card-drawing opportunities.