"Take another strike!"
Andrew pressed his advantage, thrusting with all his strength at the One-Horned Ice Python's head. He was confident in the power of his fusion battle-qi. Otherwise, he would never have dared challenge a level nine magical beast.
The Godslaying Saber sliced through the white scales on the One-Horned Ice Python's head as easily as cutting tofu. Andrew's expression showed neither joy nor sorrow. With a thought, his fusion battle-qi surged, shooting through the wound around the Godslaying Saber and instantly piercing the One-Horned Ice Python's brain!
The One-Horned Ice Python thrashed its head desperately, smashing its enormous head against everything around it, but it still could not shake Andrew off. Before it could do anything else, Andrew had already pierced its head!
Apart from certain special divine beasts, the brain was the most vulnerable part of any human or magical beast, and the One-Horned Ice Python was naturally no exception. Moreover, what had wounded it this time was fusion battle-qi. Possessing tremendous destructive and explosive power, the fusion battle-qi lingering inside its brain soon destroyed everything.
The enormous One-Horned Ice Python collapsed, never to move again. Endless cold began spilling out around it, turning the entire battlefield into a frozen world.
"Whew, it's finally dead! But it really was powerful. No wonder it's a magical beast that can rival dragons of the same level!" This battle had given Andrew a thorough taste of what it meant for sheer strength to overcome every technique. Had his opponent not been so strong, he would not have been this exhausted.
Andrew sheathed the Godslaying Saber, but the azure light around his body did not fade. He still needed his battle-qi barrier to resist the encroaching cold. The cold spilling out already rivaled seventh-level or even eighth-level magic. His body alone could not withstand it.
After some thought, Andrew dug out the One-Horned Ice Python's Magic Crystal Core and also put its corpse into his storage ring. Magical beasts had powerful bodies containing abundant magical elements. Eating their meat over a long period also helped with cultivation.
It was still summer, and temperatures were high in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts. Once he put away the One-Horned Ice Python's corpse, the cold lost its source and slowly dissipated into the air.
After dealing with the One-Horned Ice Python, Andrew did not leave immediately. For the time being, this was the safest place, because the One-Horned Ice Python's aura still lingered. The aura of a high-level magical beast was a powerful deterrent to lower-level magical beasts. The One-Horned Ice Python could be considered the overlord of this area. With its aura present, other magical beasts would never dare approach.
Strength, wielding heavy weapons as though they were light, momentum...
Sitting cross-legged, Andrew began reflecting on the battle.
The battle had not lasted long from beginning to end, nor had it taken many twists and turns. Nevertheless, it had given Andrew considerable inspiration, particularly the One-Horned Ice Python's strength. Those crushing blows, like a mountain bearing down on him, had left a deep impression.
The One-Horned Ice Python's use of strength had already reached wielding heavy weapons as though they were light. Otherwise, its tail attacks wouldn't have been silent. That wasn't because it was intelligent or had great comprehension, but because it had a natural talent for strength.
When you're already immensely strong, wielding heavy weapons as though they were light is simple. As long as you control your strength perfectly and use it freely, you can reach that realm. The Dragonblood Warriors in the original novel were the same: great strength and heavy weapons. That was why they followed the path of wielding heavy weapons as though they were light. But what about me?
Andrew could not help wondering whether he had taken the wrong path. Given his comprehension and aptitude, he should not have been stuck here for so long.
My body is only at the level of a sixth-level warrior, and my bloodline is that of an ordinary human. In strength, I can't even compare to barbarians. So in terms of natural gifts, I have no grasp of "heavy" at all. How could I possibly wield heavy weapons as though they were light?
Wielding heavy weapons as though they were light, wielding something light as though it were heavy?
Andrew suddenly understood. Wielding heavy weapons as though they were light meant perfectly controlling tremendous strength without wasting even the slightest bit, reaching the realm of "as though they were light." This was the path for those who possessed sufficient strength. Wielding something light as though it were heavy was equal to the former in realm, but its result was the complete opposite...
Bringing limited strength to limitless effect-isn't that also a path toward momentum?
At last, Andrew understood that wielding something light as though it were heavy was his path!
Having worked this out, he felt somewhat annoyed. He had relied so heavily on the original novel that he had actually forgotten to think for himself. He really should not have done that.
After all, I'm not Linley. What suits him may not suit me!
Andrew silently reminded himself of this and set out on a new journey.
The next day, he encountered more than thirty Crimson Flame Wolves in a forest.
Wolves liked to live in packs even after becoming saint-level magical beasts. Thus, encountering wolf-type magical beasts was extremely dangerous anywhere. Magical beasts that lived in groups understood coordination and tactics. Usually, even human experts one rank above them would meet a bitter end under such attacks.
Crimson Flame Wolves were among the best of the wolf-type magical beasts. They became sixth-level magical beasts upon reaching adulthood, and their kings were seventh-level! Even an eighth-level expert would give such a pack a wide berth.
Upon seeing Andrew, the Crimson Flame Wolves immediately surrounded him under their king's direction. The wolf king did not join the encirclement, instead watching from a hundred meters away.
Why are all the magical beasts here so intelligent?
Andrew found this somewhat strange. Generally speaking, although high-level magical beasts could understand human speech, their thinking and reasoning abilities were still far inferior. Only after becoming saint-level magical beasts could they fully possess intelligence.
However, there were always exceptions. Just as human aptitude varied, so did the intelligence of magical beasts. Some magical beasts might not be high in rank, but their intelligence could approach that of saint-level magical beasts. Such magical beasts were rare, but their potential for growth was immense.
High intelligence indicated powerful soul strength. The soul was the foundation of life; the stronger it was, the greater that life's potential!
The One-Horned Ice Python's intelligence had already surprised Andrew somewhat, but this seventh-level Crimson Flame Wolf seemed even more intelligent!
Could this be a mutated magical beast?
Andrew could not help wondering. In the Divine Grace Academy's library, there had been a book devoted to recording mutated magical beasts. It explained that mutated magical beasts were unusual among their kind. Some underwent bloodline mutations at birth, and these magical beasts could often break through their rank limits. For example, a mutated sixth-level magical beast could easily become a seventh-level or even an eighth-level magical beast.
Others underwent mutations of the soul. These magical beasts could develop high intelligence and also had a chance of breaking through their rank limits.
Andrew suspected that this wolf king was very likely the latter.
Regardless of what Andrew thought, the Crimson Flame Wolves had already surrounded him. A hundred meters away, the wolf king let out a long howl. Around Andrew, dozens of Crimson Flame Wolves lunged at once. Seven or eight went for his head, more than ten targeted his waist, and the rest pounced at his lower body.
This multilayered attack was so tightly packed that it left no room to dodge!
What a practiced, coordinated attack. This wolf king really is intelligent!
Andrew glanced at the wolf king, somewhat surprised. At the same time, he moved his hand, and the Godslaying Saber appeared.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Several streaks of black light flashed past, and the first Crimson Flame Wolves to pounce were sent flying back. This time, Andrew had not used fusion battle-qi. Instead, he attacked with his own strength and the Godslaying Saber.
The Godslaying Saber was light to begin with, and Andrew excelled at explosive power and speed. Combined, these made his attacks extremely fast. Several saber shadows instantly appeared around him. Each slashed at a Crimson Flame Wolf. As the saber shadows vanished, the Crimson Flame Wolves were sent flying!
The Crimson Flame Wolves landed on the ground and lay motionless. There appeared to be no wounds anywhere on their bodies, but their bodies seemed to have stiffened. Their eyes still glowed red, however, showing that they were not dead.
Andrew's expression remained unchanged as he struck repeatedly, soon clearing away all thirty-odd Crimson Flame Wolves. Crimson Flame Wolves were not particularly large, measuring only a little over two meters long. In size, they were far smaller than the One-Horned Ice Python. Even so, they still weighed several hundred jin. The sight of Andrew easily swatting magical beasts weighing several hundred jin through the air with the lightweight Godslaying Saber looked somewhat strange.
Wielding something light as though it were heavy. It looks like I've found my path!
Looking at the Crimson Flame Wolves lying on the ground, unable to rise, Andrew was overjoyed. He was not delighted because he had defeated them. Crimson Flame Wolves were merely sixth-level magical beasts and did not qualify to be his enemies. He was delighted because, during the battle, he had truly grasped the essence of using strength!
In this world, the only way to become powerful is to comprehend laws. Laws are manifestations of the Laws of the World. To comprehend laws, you must first comprehend the momentum of heaven and earth. The core of the momentum of heaven and earth is strength. Only by reaching perfection in comprehending strength can you sense momentum! This is the path to becoming powerful. Now it seems I've already taken a crucial step toward the realm of perfect strength!
Andrew was very happy. The problem that had troubled him for years had been solved in a single day. An ordinary person could not understand that joy. He could not help finding these Crimson Flame Wolves much more pleasing to the eye.
"I'm in a good mood today, so I won't hold this against you!" Andrew put away the Godslaying Saber and turned to leave.
"Awooo!"
He had only taken two steps when the wolf king a hundred meters away suddenly let out a long howl and came racing over.