Trading Blood for Mana

Qin Hui felt weak again, as though some of his strength had poured out with his blood. With an angry shout, he struck at Li Shuyi's chest, but his palm no longer carried its earlier terrifying force.

Inner power could amplify damage, but it still needed attributes as its foundation. Qin Hui had only 62 points of Strength to begin with. After being weakened by both Qiao Rui's Soul Melody and Li Shuyi's Power Siphon, he had temporarily fallen below 40.

Li Shuyi, meanwhile, had gained 14 points of Strength. Her twin swords shrieked through the air as they slashed at Qin Hui's neck.

She made no attempt to defend herself. She meant to trade blows.

Qin Hui refused. He pulled back at once and sprang away. With a rip, the sword edge sliced open the clothes across his chest, leaving him looking rather disheveled.

From behind and to the side, Butcher swept his scepter across. Bai Xiaowen might not have been as skilled as Qin Hui in melee combat, but he worked seamlessly with Li Shuyi, and the more critical the battle, the better he seized his chances.

Butcher's swing had been launched in anticipation. Bai Xiaowen had known Qin Hui would not dare trade blood with Li Shuyi.

It looked as though Qin Hui had offered the back of his head to Butcher's scepter. He had just retreated and was off balance, unable to move again to dodge.

Qin Hui bent at the waist and ducked. Butcher's scepter skimmed past the back of his head, knocking his tied-up hair loose.

Having dodged the scepter, Qin Hui had room to breathe. In a single breath, his true qi completed a circuit through his body. As his spent strength gave way to fresh power, he struck backward with a palm