Chapter 1615 - 831: Not Bad

"No! Absolutely not!"

In an instant of shock, Inaya instinctively waved his hand: "L... Boss, you're of noble stature and miraculous talent, how can you so easily put yourself in danger?

If something were to happen... No, no, absolutely not!"

In shock, his head shook like a rattle drum, almost stirring up the wind.

Regardless of Ji Jue's continuous invitations and his words about being here anyway, having nothing to do during the holiday...

No!

No means no!

Not to mention how outrageous it is for a craftsman like you to actively engage in a skirmish with a wolf, it's mainly because Ni Lin's PTSD is about to act up!

In the past, when loyally serving as King's Guard, the Priest King's final will was to have him kill him upon revival, and now he has put away his fangs doing as told, yet the Wolf Lord comes wanting sword against sword!

What kind of dog-eaten life is this?

Is life unmanageable?

Regardless of whether it's practice or sparring, this psychological pressure is about to make his brain vessels explode first.

Moreover, the Wolf Lord is used to roaming recklessly outside, if even with two blades he inadvertently causes trouble, then only death can absolve his guilt; how can he fight like this?

Bear in mind, the White Deer's skills usually aim for life and death; to show their power, they inherently require intent to kill and evil to fuel them.

Much like Hunting Finger·Flying Light, not catching it is a definite death, leaving no room for reservation. Although the skills he personally practiced aren't exaggerated to that extent, most also never hesitate their consequences; how can they be used for friendly duels?

Even if beaten to death today, or jumping down from here, he cannot...

"Don't fight and we cut the sponsorship."

"..."

With just one sentence from Ji Jue, Inaya's expression unmistakably grew bitter, "Why not ask Mr. Tang?"

Ji Jue resolutely shook his head: "How can he be reassuring like you."

In some sense, it is true.

Firstly, Old Tang is hard to find, secondly, difficult to deal with once found.

After all, Master Tang's erratic blade is notorious—his ancestors possess him sequentially, his combat power fluctuates wildly between godlike and disastrous.

When he's useless, it's just a disgrace; truly impressive times, you never know when Heavenly Slaughter Duke might surface to substitute him. Then, Old Tang might see Pan Ying in his hands and might just go mad.

Forget it, forget it.

Ji Jue is seeking sparring, not death.

Looking at Inaya, knowing him inside out provides reassurance, but the key is in strong controllability, and he doesn't ask for extra payment. Trained under White Deer, transitioning to Furnace Wolf, Mutation made it even stronger, not saying triple, but exceeding ordinary transcend.

Knowing him thoroughly and reassuringly, fitting Ji Jue's needs perfectly.

"You don't need life and death decisions, nor worry about uncontrollable consequences, how about being a sparring partner?"

Ji Jue pondered momentarily, proposing, "I came primarily to refine my skills, we'll use blood as our boundary, break skin and we stop."

"Are you certain?"

Ni Lin could not understand, seeing no room for skill honing here.

Yet since the Wolf Lord already stated so...

The burly, bearded man wrapped in a tattered robe eventually entered the arena, ten steps away, observing the wholly relaxed like-on-a-picnic Wolf Lord.

His whole body, there are flaws everywhere!

After a moment's hesitation, his resolve firmed.

Whether fulfilling his subordinate duties or advising against the Wolf Lord's casual attitude, he decided to be earnest!

When often wading by the river, how can your shoes not get wet?

One good craftsman of noble stature, no matter how much battle-ready, why rush into danger competing against wolves?

As a clumsy talker himself, always unsure how to advise verbally, if he'd awaken even the slightest caution and understanding in the Wolf Lord through this, it perhaps counts as a good deed?

"I understand, please be careful."

He stepped forward slowly.

Yet in his movement, behind him a series of vague contours emerged like residual shadows, not fixed, each with different motion and direction.

While ten steps away, enough for him to focus and gather spirit.

In the White Deer's view, such a short distance feels almost on one's doorstep already, hence the oppressive sensation being so palpable.

As though plunging into an icy sea, being watched by those slightly crimson eyes, chilling his body.

The body and instincts involuntarily creating sensations of rigidity and shivers.

Breathless.

The Demon's Shadow quickly activated, rising like flames, aiming to alter states, yet suppressed by Ji Jue, unable to react.

Purposely subduing his reactions, sensing this ubiquitous threat, sharp as thorns.

The world seemed to darken, in the peripheral vision something appeared to roam, observe, coldly gaze, silently spy.

Despite his full alertness, not in a hurry to act, instead mockingly and indifferently watching, hiding, waiting for his lapse.

Ni Lin remained immobile, just staring three steps before him, expressionless, his robe's hands empty.

Yet in the illusionary perception, it was as if claws had already clasped Ji Jue's shoulders, the breath from behind ominous.

Not rushing to act, but wasting time with Ji Jue, broadcasting this malice openly, invading every crevice.

The savagery of the wolf lies not in its predation, but in the lurking and the torment it brings beforehand.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly, each second dragging on to a torturous crawl, bringing phantasmal pain to the throat, heart, and lungs, an eerie sensation of flesh being torn apart, bones shattered, organs chewed and devoured by a monster.

The attack had already begun, the moment he steeled his resolve!

This was not a confrontation, but rather an art passed down by the White Deer, a tormenting mental interrogation through changes in one's own breath and erosion.

The best at this technique was Elder Dabit, who's now responsible for the prison camp. Any tough guy or spy who fell into his hands ended up a mess in the quiet chamber. Over the past few months, he's provided the park with numerous excellent employees using this method.

And now, it is being used on Ji Jue, the factory manager. Isn't this another form of the pot calling the kettle black?

In this regard, Ji Jue gave his commentary.

"Not bad."

He chews on this rare feeling of anxiety and fear, full of admiration: "It actually drove me to start having random thoughts... Is this destruction of the soul and spirit?

Useful, but not much. It's obvious that it hasn't fully exerted itself—Inaya, if you don't invest real malice, it might take one to two weeks to shake me."

Ji Jue suggested, "Why not just act directly."

"It's over, Wolf Lord."

Inaya sighed softly, his hand already raised. It was only when he was about to strike that Ji Jue noticed the hand he subconsciously ignored was already perilously close to his throat!

The sharp fingertips swept across Ji Jue's throat, precisely slicing a shallow cut.

In this way, the Wolf Lord should know the difference and disparity between craftsmen and wolves, right?

That was the original thought.

Unfortunately, it was a mistake.

Snap!

Inaya stood frozen, looking down in shock.

There was no subtle sensation of cutting through flesh, nothing even initiated... his hand was brushed aside?

He missed!

Just when he was sure of victory, ready to end it all, Ji Jue casually swung his arm, knocking aside the hand that was about to tear open his skin.

It was like swatting away a roommate's sinful hand reaching for his snacks in the dormitory.

Brother, don't mess around!

In the dead silence, Inaya looked at his slightly trembling index finger, lost in thought—even if held back and reserved, an attack was an attack, a duel remained a duel, just like Ji Jue could never fail at the simplest and most basic refinements, no matter how casual he seemed.

And now, in his own specialty field, with his full attention, he missed the strike?

He raised his head to look at Ji Jue, full of confusion.

How did you do it!

"Indeed very strong, gave me quite a fright, almost didn't dodge it." Ji Jue remarked in comfort: "It's not your fault, Inaya, I'm too familiar with wolves, while you know nothing of me."

He said, "Continue."

"...Understood."

Inaya remained silent for a long time before nodding slowly.

In reality, completely baffled, unable to figure out what was really happening—but he knew he'd have to take things more seriously now!

In front of Ji Jue, he slowly raised his palm, fingers loosely gripping like claws, and in an instant, a hair-raising sound emanated from between the fingers, like the roaring of a beast.

It was the blood, boiling, circulating within the palm, turning the hand instantly purple-black, filled with infinite malice, transforming it into an invincible blade.

After the mutation into a wolf, the White Deer Skill - Blood Vibration!

This can't be considered a particularly rare secret technique; quite the opposite, it's very easy to learn, widely spread within the Desert Market. Any White Deer can learn it, and precisely because of this, after thousands of years of progression, it has reached its terrifying state today through daily training and exploration.

Thus, right in front of Ji Jue, inch by inch, his hand extended, unbelievably slowly reaching for Ji Jue's scapula, causing a slight shiver and tremble in Ji Jue's body.

Throughout this slow progression, his hand often lifted, and paused mid-air.

Sometimes trying to intercept the direction of this strike, sometimes attempting a direct confrontation, other times seemingly trying to deflect and dodge. But from start to finish, that slowly advancing hand never wavered, inching ever closer.

In just ten centimeters, the hallucination of scapula fracture was felt, but at that moment, the Blood Vibration claw came to an abrupt stop.

Ji Jue's hand had already risen, seemingly supporting his arm, while the other hand pointed distantly toward his left armpit, at his heart.

Countermeasure.

"No chance, Wolf Lord." Ni Lin shook his head regretfully.

Ji Jue said, "No harm in trying."

Ni Lin nodded, withdrawing his hand, then immediately, with no warning, a stench erupted, and the Blood Vibration claw tore through the air, smashing towards Ji Jue's scapula.

No matter how he prepped, he couldn't match this speed; by the time he detected it, it was already too late, but just as that hand was about to lay on Ji Jue's shoulder, it again, without warning, bounced upwards, brushing past Ji Jue's shoulder, missing by a hair's breadth.

Just as Ji Jue's reaction showed during the earlier practice.

His elbow was gripped tightly, the Blood Vibration form honed through countless trials and tempering was actually broken by a craftsman.

Pushed aside!

And in a brief window of opportunity, the hand wrapped in Jing Zhen's brilliance had already halted before Ni Lin's chest, merely a hair's distance away.

Force the opponent to retreat or fight to the death, perish together.

In the deathly stillness, Ni Lin began to sweat.

Something's wrong!