NOVEL NEXT Chapter 433: Astral Swords
Orion's lips curled upward slightly, interest piqued as he studied the beast carefully, quietly speaking to Lumi in his mind, 'Looks like I've found my first target to test out something new.'
Lumi's curiosity immediately sparked, her voice gently filled with intrigue,
[Hmm? What do you mean, Master? This beast is only Tier 8, you can beat it to death using only your physical strength now.]
Orion's expression softened into a light, playful smile as he explained patiently, 'I want to test out the Astral Swords I can now form after comprehending Advanced Grade Sword Aura. I haven't had the opportunity to try them yet. Besides, with both my swords broken, I'll need to rely on these Astral Swords for some time, I don't want to use those low-grade swords in my inventory.'
Lumi quickly understood Orion's intention, excitement bubbling up in her response,
[That's perfect, Master! Practicing with a weaker opponent first is always the safer option. Let's see how strong your Astral Swords really are!]
Feeling encouraged by Lumi's enthusiasm, Orion stepped forward decisively, emerging calmly from behind the tree, his entire body instantly radiating a powerful Advanced Grade Fire Sword Aura.
Fiery crimson light engulfed him, waves of intense heat rippling outward as four blazing Astral Swords manifested, each sword gleaming brilliantly as it floated steadily behind his back.
Orion reached back casually, grasping one of the swords, feeling its weightlessness yet substantial power. Gazing down at the shimmering blade in his hand.
Orion thought to himself, almost as though teaching himself, 'Advanced Sword Aura is divided into three distinct levels. To reach the peak of Advanced Grade, I must ultimately condense nine Astral Swords. Right now, four is my limit.'
Taking a deep breath to steady his concentration, Orion directed his attention forward. The previously sleeping Four-Armed Monkey had already awoken from Orion's aggressive aura, immediately jumping to its feet.
Enraged, the beast furiously pounded its muscular chest, roaring loudly and displaying its intimidating physical prowess to deter the intruder.
Yet Orion merely smiled coldly in response, his eyes calm, gripping the Astral Sword tighter. He surged forward fearlessly, feet gliding effortlessly across the earth as he quickly closed the distance, sword raised high, engulfed in flames.
The fierce beast snarled, lunging forward to meet Orion head-on. As their battle commenced, Orion quickly adapted, skillfully wielding the Astral Sword in swift, precise strikes.
Initially, his movements were slightly awkward, unfamiliar with the unusual, intangible feel of the astral blade since he was used to fight with the heavy long sword.
Gradually, however, his movements grew smoother and more confident, adapting fluidly to its unique qualities and subtle feedback as he infused more mana in the sword to make it heavier to perfectly fit in his grasp.
As their fierce confrontation continued, Orion carefully evaluated the Astral Sword's power. He noted how each strike left deep gashes upon the beast's hide, its durability impressively matching that of a Low-Grade Tier 8 artifact.
'Not bad,' Orion thought approvingly, mentally adjusting his strategies to accommodate the blade's unique advantages and limitations.
After exchanging several fierce blows, Orion decisively stepped back, creating a brief opening. Seizing this opportunity, he calmly whispered, "Blazing Execution Arc."
Instantly, a blazing arc of crimson fire energy surged outward from the Astral Sword, rapidly expanding in intensity and power, slicing cleanly through the Tier 8 beast.
The monkey's eyes widened in shock before its enormous body collapsed heavily to the ground, life instantly extinguished.
Exhaling slowly, Orion stood quietly in the aftermath, calmly reviewing the battle internally.
Lumi's voice quickly sounded in his mind, filled with enthusiastic curiosity,
[Nicely done, Master! The Astral Swords worked surprisingly well! How did they feel to you?]
Orion calmly began sharing his insights, his tone thoughtful and reflective, 'Seems quite nice. They are now at Low-Grade Tier 8 artifact. So if I can condense another Astral Sword, then it should reach Mid-Grade Tier 8 artifact. Hmm this is better than I thought, I should have fused my sword with Astral Sword to reach peak power.'
His voice held slight regret as he hadn't thought about this before. But it was also because he had just learned it and there weren't many instances of him to use it. Most of the time his enemies were either far weak or not someone who he can win against even if he merged his sword with Astral Sword.
Lumi considered Orion's assessment carefully, her voice growing increasingly optimistic,
[Then, Master, if you manage to reach the peak of Advanced Grade Sword Aura and manifest all nine Astral Swords, wouldn't that be equivalent to wielding multiple Tier 9 weapons simultaneously? That would truly be an overwhelming advantage in battle!]
Orion smiled appreciatively, nodding in agreement, 'Haha yeah, and it's rare for others to even master Advanced Grade Sword Aura from the records I have read. Looks like it will be really good when I can reach the limit of my strength.'
However, as if to pour a basin of cold water, Lumi's slightly hesitant voice echoed out,
[But Master, wouldn't you also need to divide your focus into 9 different parts if you want to simultaneously control these 9 swords?]
Orion's lips twitched, this was a problem he had also considered before, 'Yeah, I think I can do that once I reach the next level in my Soul Cultivation. Otherwise I might have to look for some Spirit Arts on telekinesis. Those shouldn't be too rare, right?'
Lumi playfully said to him,
[Guess? In a kingdom where Spirit Arts in itself are rare, you think they will have high-level technique like telekinesis?]
Orion exhaled a long breath and dispersed the Astral Swords, 'Whatever, I will think about this later. I should head to the next city now.'
After finishing his conversation with Lumi, Orion began traveling steadily towards the next city.
Days slipped by without incident, allowing him ample time to recover and reflect upon his recent battles.
Eventually, as the sun climbed to its zenith on the third day, Orion finally arrived at Silverbrook City.
Approaching from a distance, Orion immediately noticed the city's distinct atmosphere. It was vibrant, bustling with activity, and far more populated by humans compared to the other mixed cities he'd recently visited.
The architecture was reminiscent of the Human Kingdom, with grand stone walls towering protectively, elegant watchtowers dotting the perimeter, and intricately carved gates depicting historical battles and mythical beasts.
Clearly, Silverbrook City lay close to the border of the Human territories, serving as a crucial hub between humanity and the Desolate Wilderness.
Smiling faintly, Orion lowered his displayed cultivation to the Tier 5 realm, a habit he'd begun to thoroughly enjoy as it allowed him to observe others without attracting too much attention.
Swaggering lightly towards the grand city gates, his bearing confident yet approachable, he was promptly halted by two neatly armored human guards, their gazes respectful yet dutiful.
One guard politely spoke up, giving Orion a short salute, "Greetings, sir. Welcome to Silverbrook City. The entry fee is ten Low-Grade Mana Crystals."
Feeling exceptionally generous and cheerful upon reaching a city after his exhausting journey, Orion chuckled lightly, reaching into his spatial ring and withdrawing a small bag of Mana Crystals.
Handing over exactly one hundred Low-Grade Mana Crystals with an easygoing smile, he said, "Consider the extra a tip for your hard work."