C11 Humiliating

When Chang Qianyu noticed Chu Tian's astounded expression, she realized her speed had stunned him, prompting her to first torment him psychologically. She was all too familiar with the wounds inflicted by blades, yet the look in the eyes of someone teetering on the brink of death never ceased to captivate her. Since she could only witness such a gaze once with each kill, Chang Qianyu had mastered the art of exploiting the fear within a person's heart to prolong their agony. This method of killing was excruciatingly slow, yet it allowed her to savor the euphoria of murder over and over again.

Repeatedly feigning attacks, Chang Qianyu failed to elicit the expression she craved on Chu Tian's face. The panic and contorted fear she sought were like a drug to her, fueling an endless surge of pleasure within. Yet, at this moment, she felt nothing. Chu Tian appeared to be asleep, utterly still, his face as serene as a tranquil ancient well, seemingly detached from the world around him.

Chang Qianyu's rage was uncontainable. How dare this contemptible commoner belittle her, show no fear, and confront her with his eyes closed? She was tempted to sever Chu Tian's left leg right then and there, to see if he would scream, cry, or succumb to fear.

Once more, Chang Qianyu struck, this time aiming a diagonal thrust at Chu Tian's left leg. Her intent was to shatter his femur without severing the limb, prolonging his demise and extending her own twisted delight.

Chu Tian, with his eyes closed, had long been attuned to Chang Qianyu's movements. He had deciphered her pattern and, as she changed direction, he knew her target was his left thigh. Whether it was Chang Qianyu's caution, luck, or a limitation of her strength, she attacked from Chu Tian's rear flank, rendering the knife in his right hand useless.

Chu Tian had anticipated the attack on his left thigh, but to counter with a right-handed slash at Chang Qianyu swooping in from the side, he would need to pivot. This movement would shift his waist into the path of his thigh. Should his counter fail, Chu Tian would be bisected at the waist, leaving him no chance of survival.

Chu Tian opted for a cautious approach. He lifted his left leg and kicked backward, not needing to exert much force as he anticipated Chang Qianyu colliding with his foot. Given Chang Qianyu's velocity, he would essentially impale himself on Chu Tian's foot.

Chu Tian braced for the impact to travel from his foot up through his body, but it never came.

Had he missed? That seemed impossible. Chu Tian had already mastered Chang Qianyu's movement patterns; there should have been no error.

Suddenly, Chu Tian felt Chang Qianyu passing through his foot. He opened his eyes in astonishment to see Chang Qianyu moving through his body, even offering a sinister smile as they faced each other.

As Chang Qianyu savored the impending cries of despair from Chu Tian, he detected Chu Tian's adjustment. His left foot had kicked upward, perfectly intercepting Chang Qianyu's path as if anticipating his next move.

"Ha, not bad in terms of insight, but still far too weak," Chang Qianyu remarked, his opinion of Chu Tian shifting slightly.

Chang Qianyu's Dream Talisman had seldom been deployed, reserved only for eliminating formidable opponents. This was the first time he had used it on someone with no foundational skills like Chu Tian. None of the victims had ever discerned his pattern of movement, yet today, Chu Tian had managed to do just that.

"If I don't kill you today, my Dream Talisman will have been in vain," Chang Qianyu thought to himself with a fierce resolve.

The Dream Talisman stemmed from the Coldtalons Sect's Book of Dreams, the pinnacle of their cultivation techniques, which even Chang Qianyu lacked the power to practice. Nevertheless, Chang Qianyu had adapted the Book of Dreams to forge his own mental technique. While the Dream Talisman didn't match the Book of Dreams in sheer power, its cultivation requirements were significantly lower. Once mastered, it allowed one to solidify their soul into a tangible form, even turning the soul into a blade to feast on the blood of others.

Moreover, the Dream Talisman offered a unique advantage: the ability to control the corporeal and incorporeal aspects of one's body. Just like now, as Chu Tian raised his foot in anticipation of Chang Qianyu's collision, Chang Qianyu became insubstantial, passing through Chu Tian's body like a breeze.

Chu Tian had not anticipated that Chang Qianyu could shift from solid to ethereal, deftly evading his attack. It made sense, though; if Qianyu couldn't phase between states, how would he be able to reach Chu Tian's body?

Hovering in the air, Chang Qianyu pointed his longsword at Chu Tian and declared, "Kid, you lack talent but not wit. Since my Coldtalons Sect can't take you in, I must eliminate you now to prevent future trouble. Out of respect, my next move will be a killing blow. Consider it an honor."

Chu Tian gave a sinister smile and beckoned Chang Qianyu with a crooked index finger. Predictably, Qianyu's face twisted in anger as he spat, "I said I'd kill you, but I never specified how. Enjoy your last moments, you wretch!"

Chu Tian had a clear premonition that Qianyu's strike would target his chest, specifically aiming for his lungs rather than his heart. Qianyu wanted to witness the desperation in Chu Tian's eyes as he gasped for air on the ground. Internally, Chu Tian chuckled. Chang Qianyu was acting rather childishly, lacking decisiveness.

Despite these thoughts, Chu Tian was determined not to let Chang Qianyu end his life. The frontal assault provided Chu Tian with an opportunity. He was gambling on the notion that Qianyu's ability to shift between real and illusory had its limits, as everything in the world does. Nothing can change infinitely without pause.

Therefore, Chu Tian aimed his unnamed blade at Chang Qianyu, ready for the collision. He thought to himself, if I die, so be it. If my gamble fails, it means Chang Qianyu's shifting ability is continuous, and no number of Chu Tians could defeat him—his attacks were swift and vicious, yet they struck only air. By Chu Tian's reasoning, no one could defeat Chang Qianyu under those circumstances.

But Chu Tian's gamble was misplaced.

The Dream Caller's shifting had constraints, not of time, but of frequency. Each time his soul ventured forth, Chang Qianyu could only shift from ethereal to solid three times. Beyond that, he couldn't control his spirit and had to swiftly return to his body or risk his life. However, Chang Qianyu only needed to become intangible as he passed Chu Tian, then solidify behind him. With a single backstab, Chu Tian's life would be extinguished.

Chang Qianyu watched as Chu Tian once again pointed his nameless knife at him and let out a scornful laugh, "Even if you point that thing at me, you can't touch me. Why bother?"

But Chang Qianyu was mistaken.

For the first time, he who had always felt nothing in his ethereal state, experienced a chilling sensation. To his astonishment, he saw his body impaled by the nameless knife in Chu Tian's hand—Chang Qianyu was now skewered on the blade.

Chu Tian felt something like a clump of cotton strike his knife, a sensation vastly different from the gentle breeze he felt when Chang Qianyu had previously passed through his foot. This time, there was a tangible sense of solidity.

Chang Qianyu was in tears, realizing that no matter what he did, he couldn't free himself from the nameless knife. No matter how he struggled, he found parts of his soul adhering to the blade, causing him excruciating pain with every movement.

Chu Tian opened his eyes to see Chang Qianyu frantically thrashing on his knife, seemingly desperate to detach his soul from the blade, but to no avail.

"Haha, you want to escape? Let me assist you." Chang Qianyu's soul wasn't heavy, so despite appearing as though Chu Tian's knife bore the weight of a person, it remained as light as before. Chu Tian could effortlessly swing the knife, subjecting Chang Qianyu to a tumultuous ride that soon had him pleading for mercy. With each swing, Chang Qianyu felt his soul might just shatter.

"Please, Grandpa Chu Tian, stop swinging," begged Chang Qianyu, dangling from the nameless knife.

Chu Tian, however, did not cease. He was uncertain, for he had only defeated Chang Qianyu by risking his life and relying on sheer luck. He couldn't fathom why the knife had injured Chang Qianyu and feared letting him go might invite retaliation.

Onlookers from Coldtalons couldn't stand by any longer. Lei Hongyuan stepped forward and bellowed, "Chu Tian, as an elder of Coldtalons, I will not tolerate you mocking and humiliating me in front of everyone!"