Chapter 513 - 248: Encountering a Mutated Blood Scythe Demon Mantis, Harvesting a Powerful Talent, and a Chance Encounter with a Giant Spirit Martial Artist

A scorching, dark-red aura faintly emanated from the surface of his gray True Qi.

It was the gold-burning property from the Crimson Flame Golden Burning Technique!

"CLANG!!!"

The Blood Scythe collided with Jiang Che’s palm, creating a sharp clang as if metal had struck metal, and sparks flew in all directions!

The massive impact shattered the ground beneath Jiang Che’s feet. He sank several inches into the earth and slid backward for over ten feet.

’Such immense strength!’

Jiang Che’s arm felt slightly numb, and he praised the beast’s power in his heart.

The Blood Scythe Demon Mantis truly lived up to its reputation as an Exotic Beast known for its offense. The power of that strike far surpassed an ordinary practitioner at the Sixth Layer of the True Master Realm!

"HISS!!"

The Blood Scythe Demon Mantis, on the other hand, let out a pained shriek.

A charred, black scorch mark had been left on its iron-hard Blood Scythe!

It had been seared by the intense heat within Jiang Che’s True Qi!

Its first strike having failed, the Blood Scythe Demon Mantis flew into a savage rage.

Its figure suddenly vanished!

The next moment, it appeared at Jiang Che’s side, raised its Blood Scythe, and viciously hacked at his waist from an awkward angle!

This time, Jiang Che couldn’t block it completely.

"RRRIP!"

His clothes tore as the sharp edge of the Blood Scythe slashed across his waist and ribs. It cut through his Protective True Qi and left a long, bloody gash on his skin.

Had it been anyone else, that blow would have sliced them in two!

But Jiang Che’s body, fortified by countless Passive Talents, had long ago reached an unimaginable level of tenacity!

The blade had only broken the skin before his taut muscles and bones stopped it cold.

"That’s it?"

Jiang Che glanced down at the wound, a savage grin spreading across his face.

Sensing the damage, a vast number of recovery-type Passive Effects like [Healing] and [Rejuvenation], which had been integrated by a True Level Talent, instantly kicked into overdrive!

And the gruesome wound began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye!

In the blink of an eye, not even a scar remained. His skin was as smooth as new.

"Hiss??"

A human-like look of shock and confusion appeared in the compound eyes of the Blood Scythe Demon Mantis.

It had run rampant in the Black Mist Wood for many years, killing countless prey, but this was the first time it had ever encountered such an unkillable monster!

"My turn!"

Jiang Che gave it no time to ponder its existence.

With a stomp of his foot, he shot forward like a cannonball!

He didn’t use his Twenty-Eighthfold Strike, nor did he transform into his Black Armor.

He used only his pure physical strength, wreathed in scorching Myriad Phenomena True Qi, hammering the Demon Mantis with a rain of punches!

"BAM! BAM! BAM!"

The heavy thuds of impact echoed through the woods.

The more Jiang Che fought, the more excited he became, his movements growing smoother and more fluid.

He discovered that with the boost from the Blood Burning Secret Technique, he could go head-to-head with this Fierce Beast at the Sixth Layer Peak of the True Master Realm. Even without using his trump cards, he was starting to gain the upper hand!

The thrill of fist meeting flesh made the blood in his veins burn hot!

"ROAR!!!"

The Blood Scythe Demon Mantis was forced into a steady retreat, its carapace shattering in multiple places and turning a scorched black.

It finally realized that this human wasn’t prey at all, but a terrifying Fierce Beast wearing human skin!

Its pair of Blood Scythes could only inflict minor damage.

Worse, any wounds it inflicted healed in the blink of an eye!

How could it possibly fight this?

Escape!

The Blood Scythe Demon Mantis was savage, but it wasn’t stupid.

It let out a sharp shriek as black mist billowed around it. Its form instantly grew illusory as it prepared to use its concealment Talent to flee.

"Trying to run? Too late!"

In the vision of his [True: All-Seeing Eye], the Demon Mantis’s concealed form was as clear as a torch in the dead of night!

Jiang Che strode forward, anticipating the Demon Mantis’s escape route. His hands shot out like iron pincers and clamped down with perfect precision on the pair of Blood Scythes it took such pride in!

"You will... BREAK!!!"

Jiang Che roared, the muscles on his arms knotting as he unleashed his Barbaric Power!

"CRACK!"

"HIIISSS!!!"

Along with a piercing shriek of agony, green insect blood sprayed forth!

Jiang Che had brutally ripped the two incredibly hard Blood Scythes right off the Demon Mantis’s torso!

Convulsing in agony, the Demon Mantis completely lost all power to resist.

Jiang Che casually tossed the severed limbs aside and strode before the Demon Mantis. He raised his right fist high, compressing his Myriad Phenomena True Qi.

"Die!"

He smashed his fist down!

"SPLAT!"

The Blood Scythe Demon Mantis’s triangular head exploded, splattering red and white matter everywhere. Its massive body crashed to the ground, utterly still.

Huuu...

Jiang Che deactivated the Blood Burning Secret Technique and let out a long breath. He glanced at the carnage around him, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

’A solo kill on a target at the Sixth Layer Peak of the True Master Realm, without using any trump cards.’

’It seems my standard combat power has already reached the threshold of the High-tier of the True Master Realm!’

However, he didn’t let it go to his head.

He knew now that there was a qualitative difference between the Sixth and Seventh Layers of the True Master Realm.

Below the Sixth Layer of the True Master Realm, the differences were mostly in the density of one’s True Qi, so defeating an opponent in a higher Realm wasn’t exceptionally difficult.

But the Seventh Layer marked the entry into the High-tier of the True Master Realm, where both the quality of one’s True Qi and the strength of one’s body would be drastically enhanced.

But he wouldn’t know the exact extent of it until he fought someone at that level.

After that, Jiang Che skillfully took out a Jade Talisman and performed the Soul Capturing and Soul Binding Technique.

A crimson Beast Soul, filled with resentment and savagery, was forcibly extracted and sealed within the Jade Talisman.

Jiang Che sent his Divine Thought into the talisman to inspect the soul’s properties.

[Beast Soul: Blood Scythe Demon Mantis (Sixth Layer Peak of True Master Realm)]

[Spirit Attachment Ability: Blood Scythe Armor-Piercing. Your attacks gain a high-frequency, vibrating cutting force that ignores 30% of the target’s physical defense and Protective True Qi, inflicting a Tearing Wound that will not stop bleeding.]