Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2 Master Zhao
Chapter 3 The Blue Angel
Chapter 4 Magic
Chapter 5 On The Road
Chapter 6 A Harsh Lesson
Chapter 7 The Black Pill
Chapter 8 A Taste Of Magic
Chapter 9 Master Firehear
Chapter 10 Windsong
Chapter 11 Stages Of Magic
Chapter 12 The Wind Realm
Chapter 13 Opening A Realm
Chapter 14 A Breath Of Wind
Chapter 15 Drunken Masters
Chapter 16 The Valley
Chapter 17 An Unexpected Arrival
Chapter 18 Preparing For Battle
Chapter 19 The True Face Of Magic
Chapter 20 Aftermath
Chapter 21 Disguises
Chapter 22 Memories Of Murder
Chapter 23 A Difficult Choice
Chapter 24 Master Zhao’S Treasures
Chapter 25 The Journey Ahead
Chapter 26 Redwater
Chapter 27 Dinner With Enemies
Chapter 28 Unlikely Companions
Chapter 29 Stormleaf'S Gif
Chapter 30 Power Overwhelming
Chapter 31 Lord Jiang
Chapter 32 The Price Of Power
Chapter 33 The Estate
Chapter 34 Training With Lord Jiang
Chapter 35 Continued Training
Chapter 36 Body Refinemen
Chapter 37 Feast Of Treasures
Chapter 38 Faster, Higher, Stronger
Chapter 39 The Starmetal Sword
Chapter 40 The Magistrate
Chapter 41 Duel
Chapter 42 Revelations
Chapter 43 Breaking The Seals
Chapter 44 Newfound Power
Chapter 45 Lord Jiang'S Gifts
Chapter 46 Saying Goodbye
Chapter 47 Leaving Silvermere
Chapter 48 Ambush
Chapter 49 Wounds Of Battle
Chapter 50 The Bandit Fortress
Chapter 51 Senecio
Chapter 52 Looting Treasures
Chapter 53 Words Of Chaos
Chapter 54 The Old Man And The Trickster
Chapter 55 Panurge’S Punishmen
Chapter 56 Windblade
Chapter 57 A Way To Escape
Chapter 58 Prison Break
Chapter 59 The Prisoners
Chapter 60 A Clear Path
Chapter 61 A Change Of Plans
Chapter 62 Assaulting The Prison
Chapter 63 Resistance
Chapter 64 Facing The Archmage
Chapter 65 Birds And Dragons
Chapter 66 Leaving The Stronghold
Chapter 67 The Edge Of The Empire
Chapter 68 The Story So Far
Chapter 69 The Border City
Chapter 70 Darkfire
Chapter 71 A Small Figh
Chapter 72 Tournamen
Chapter 73 The Shadowblood Novice
Chapter 74 The Gray-Robed Lady
Chapter 75 Governor Eddarin
Chapter 76 Leaving The City
Chapter 77 Darkfire'S Ordeal
Chapter 78 A New Arrival
Chapter 79 Judgmen
Chapter 80 New Techniques
Chapter 81 The Arenas Of Hillfor
Chapter 82 The Victor'S Spoils
Chapter 83 An Unexpected Invitation
Chapter 84 Lunch With The Governor
Chapter 85 Amaya
Chapter 86 Searching For Answers
Chapter 87 Stoneheart'S Army
Chapter 88 Stonehear
Chapter 89 Zehava
Chapter 90 Unexpected News
Chapter 91 Darkfire’S Decision
Chapter 92 Before The Tournamen
Chapter 93 The Tournament Begins
Chapter 94 The Tournament Continues
Chapter 95 Defeated
Chapter 96 Snowcloud
Chapter 97 The Valley
Chapter 98 Oathbound
Chapter 99 Urgent Matters
Chapter 100 Running
Chapter 101 Questions
Chapter 102 Answers
Chapter 103 First Steps
Chapter 104 Crystals
Chapter 105 Blindsided
Chapter 106 Fighting Blind
Chapter 107 Shadowsigh
Chapter 108 Exposed
Chapter 109 The Bracele
Chapter 110 The Deserters' Fortress
Chapter 111 Fighting Dirty
Chapter 112 Assault On The Fortress
Chapter 113 Blood Magic
Chapter 114 A Debt Repaid
Chapter 115 Exchanging Knowledge
Chapter 116 Goldhaven
Chapter 117 Lord Sevaril
Chapter 118 The Formula
Chapter 119 Ingredients
Chapter 120 The Golden Hall
Chapter 121 Troublesome Treasures
Chapter 122 The Power Of Lies
Chapter 123 Truth Be Told
Chapter 124 Picking Treasures
Chapter 125 Windfall
Chapter 126 Rapid Training
Chapter 127 Leaving Goldhaven
Chapter 128 Injuries
Chapter 129 Smooth Travels
Chapter 130 A Familiar Face
Chapter 131 Stoneheart'S Misfortune
Chapter 132 Preparing For Battle
Chapter 133 Bloodlus
Chapter 134 Control
Chapter 135 Trus
Chapter 136 Forced March
Chapter 137 Contac
Chapter 138 Danger Illustrated
Chapter 139 Titan
Chapter 140 The Dragon
Chapter 141 The Tempering
Chapter 142 Destruction Realm
Chapter 143 The Tempering, Take Two
Chapter 144 Tempered
Chapter 145 Weakness
Chapter 146 At The Castle
Chapter 147 The Dragon'S Proposal
Chapter 148 A Decision
Chapter 149 The Eve Of Battle
Chapter 150 Bai
Chapter 151 Fighting An Army
Chapter 152 Novices
Chapter 153 Hunting The Survivors
Chapter 154 Riverbend
Chapter 155 The Next Mission
Chapter 156 Leaving The Castle
Chapter 157 Hiding The Evidence
Chapter 158 Eidaran Ruins
Chapter 159 Parting Ways
Chapter 160 Into The Ruins
Chapter 161 A Long Wai
Chapter 162 Enemies
Chapter 163 Fear
Chapter 164 Spirit Crystals
Chapter 165 About Dragons
Chapter 166 Journey To The Dragon Lands
Chapter 167 Chasing Dragons
Chapter 168 Dumber Than Rocks
Chapter 169 Unexpected News
Chapter 170 The Dragon'S Lair
Chapter 171 The Enemy Appears
Chapter 172 Plan Of Attack
Chapter 173 The Eve Of Battle
Chapter 174 To Fight A Dragon 1
Chapter 175 To Fight A Dragon 2
Chapter 176 To Fight A Dragon 3
Chapter 177 To Fight A Dragon 4
Chapter 178 The Best Way To Kill A Dragon...
Chapter 179 Dragon'S Blood
Chapter 180 Blood Crisis
Chapter 181 Blood Battle
Chapter 182 Leaving The Blood Pool
Chapter 183 Escape Plan
Chapter 184 Dragon'S Fligh
Chapter 185 Dragon'S Ruin
Chapter 186 The Way Back
Chapter 187 Unexpected Allies
Chapter 188 Iron Mountain Adepts
Chapter 189 A New Plan
Chapter 190 The Road To Uvar
Chapter 191 Setting The Trap
Chapter 192 Facing A Master
Chapter 193 Hunter
Chapter 194 The Way Back
Chapter 195 The Edge Of Victory
Chapter 196 A Final Deception
Chapter 197 The Iron Mountain Camp
Chapter 198 Toward The Valley
Chapter 199 The Valley'S Gate
Chapter 200 The Patriarch'S Palace
Chapter 201 Barrier
Chapter 202 The Patriarch
Chapter 203 The Patriarch'S Summons
Chapter 204 A New Path
Chapter 205 A Long Journey
Chapter 206 Into The Valley
Chapter 207 Alder'S Farm
Chapter 208 An Invitation
Chapter 209 Houses Of The Ninth Valley
Chapter 210 A Change For The Worse
Chapter 211 Unreasonable Demands
Chapter 212 A Small Demonstration
Chapter 213 Show Of Power
Chapter 214 Bad Teacher
Chapter 215 The Thousand Cuts
Chapter 216 Training Days
Chapter 217 The Road Ahead
Chapter 218 Hidden Estate
Chapter 219 A New Approach
Chapter 220 Insigh
Chapter 221 Recovery
Chapter 222 Reunion
Chapter 223 Snowcloud'S Potions
Chapter 224 Snowcloud'S Departure
Chapter 225 Return To The House Of Swords
Chapter 226 To The House Of Flames
Chapter 227 A New Teacher
Chapter 228 Forms
Chapter 229 Form And Function
Chapter 230 Brightblade'S Vow
Chapter 231 The House Of Shadows
Chapter 232 A Step Into Shadow
Chapter 233 Shadow And Swords
Chapter 234 The House Of Seals
Chapter 235 A Small Bit Of Talen
Chapter 236 A New Teacher
Chapter 237 Reunion
Chapter 238 An Agreemen
Chapter 239 A Palace Of One'S Own
Chapter 240 Brightblade'S Background
Chapter 241 A Final Night Of Res
Chapter 242 The First Day Of Training
Chapter 243 Effor
Chapter 244 Destruction Essence
Chapter 245 A Brief Respite
Chapter 246 Shields
Chapter 247 Ambush
Chapter 248 After The Battle
Chapter 249 Questions Of Power
Chapter 250 Questionable Plans
Chapter 251 A Fruitless Search
Chapter 252 Facing The Elders
Chapter 253 Offending An Elder
Chapter 254 Brightblade'S Challenge
Chapter 255 The Dueling Grounds
Chapter 256 The Duel
Chapter 257 A Fight To The Death
Chapter 258 Aftermath
Chapter 259 The Matriarch'S Plans
Chapter 260 Treasures
Chapter 261 An Heir'S Estate
Chapter 262 Gifts
Chapter 263 Festivities
Chapter 264 Effor
Chapter 265 Brightblade'S Fortress
Chapter 266 A Small Wager
Chapter 267 Brightblade'S Orders
Chapter 268 Leaving The Valley
Chapter 269 Essence Remnants
Chapter 270 An Obstacle
Chapter 271 More Than Remnants
Chapter 272 Demons
Chapter 273 A Short Goodbye
Chapter 274 On The Road
Chapter 275 Hunter
Chapter 276 Amydon
Chapter 277 The Fall Of Amydon
Chapter 278 A Quiet Place
Chapter 279 A New Foundation
Chapter 280 The Final Stretch
Chapter 281 A Break
Chapter 282 The Caves Of Amydon
Chapter 283 The Hidden City
Chapter 284 Karanos
Chapter 285 The Mines
Chapter 286 Trash And Treasure
Chapter 287 A Step Into Shadow
Chapter 288 Darkness
Chapter 289 The Shadow Realm
Chapter 290 Amid The Ruins
Chapter 291 Shards Of Living Shadow
Chapter 292 A Fitting Weapon
Chapter 293 A Small Bribe
Chapter 294 To Leave A Dying World
Chapter 295 Homecoming
Chapter 296 Hidden Treasure
Chapter 297 Waiting For A Sign
Chapter 298 Departure
Chapter 299 Into The Ligh
Chapter 300 Redhill
Chapter 301 Pursui
Chapter 302 Training Ground
Chapter 303 Hunters
Chapter 304 Recruits
Chapter 305 Pills
Chapter 306 Thieves And Robbers
Chapter 307 Facing A Hunter
Chapter 308 Into The Battlefield
Chapter 309 Suffering
Chapter 310 A Knight Of The Imperium
Chapter 311 A Choice
Chapter 312 Searching The Battlefield
Chapter 313 The Fores
Chapter 314 Studying The Forms
Chapter 315 Preparation
Chapter 316 The Road To Esran
Chapter 317 The City Of Esran
Chapter 318 A Steward'S Aid
Chapter 319 Leaving The Borderlands
Chapter 320 The Border
Chapter 321 Into The Imperium
Chapter 322 Advice
Chapter 323 The Fate Of Refugees
Chapter 324 A City Of Tents
Chapter 325 The Wolfsblood Company
Chapter 326 Arrival
Chapter 327 A New Deal
Chapter 328 Imperial Politics
Chapter 329 Battle Approaches
Chapter 330 A Taste Of Battle
Chapter 331 The Spoils Of Battle
Chapter 332 Lord Kadun
Chapter 333 To The Mines
Chapter 334 What Lurks Below
Chapter 335 Into Darkness
Chapter 336 Diggers
Chapter 337 Battle
Chapter 338 Three Monsters
Chapter 339 The Blood Ruin
Chapter 340 A Warm Welcome
Chapter 341 Studying Strategy
Chapter 342 Weapons And Training
Chapter 343 A New Tool
Chapter 344 Unwelcome Company
Chapter 345 Provocation
Chapter 346 Down Below
Chapter 347 A Small Disturbance
Chapter 348 A Lord'S Mercy
Chapter 349 Prison
Chapter 350 Prison Break
Chapter 351 Breaching The Defenses
Chapter 352 Defending The Gate
Chapter 353 A Knight'S Power
Chapter 354 Lord Rannoc
Chapter 355 Outrage
Chapter 356 The Strength Of Lords
Chapter 357 An Offer
Chapter 358 Revelations
Chapter 359 The Desolation
Chapter 360 Rannoc'S Orders
Chapter 361 Citizenship
Chapter 362 Sleepless Nights
Chapter 363 A Foundation
Chapter 364 The Road Back
Chapter 365 A Deb
Chapter 366 Settling Debts
Chapter 367 Broken Company
Chapter 368 An Exchange
Chapter 369 Preparations
Chapter 370 Breakthrough
Chapter 371 Delivery
Chapter 372 A New Journey
Chapter 373 An Unwelcome Invitation
Chapter 374 Challenge
Chapter 375 A Duel
Chapter 376 Facing A Knight, Again
Chapter 377 Words Of Warning
Chapter 378 What Lurks In The Bligh
Chapter 379 A Quiet Departure
Chapter 380 The Road To Sacrifice
Chapter 381 A Storm Of Blood
Chapter 382 Behind The Walls
Chapter 383 A Sea Of Shadow
Chapter 384 Reaver'S End
Chapter 385 Newcomers
Chapter 386 A New Plan
Chapter 387 An Old Friend
Chapter 388 An Imperial Knigh
Chapter 389 The Knight'S Apprentice
Chapter 390 Knight'S Watch
Chapter 391 Comprehension
Chapter 392 Master Of Shadow
Chapter 393 Finding Enemies
Chapter 394 The Missing Piece
Chapter 395 Reunion
Chapter 396 Decisions
Chapter 397 The Wolfsblood Army
Chapter 398 Enlightenmen
Chapter 399 An Unwelcome Gues
Chapter 400 The Oath
Chapter 401 An Invitation
Chapter 402 The Dangers Ahead
Chapter 403 Into The Desolation
Chapter 404 Suppression
Chapter 405 Confrontation
Chapter 406 Arrival
Chapter 407 The Archon'S Summons
Chapter 408 The Master'S Bloodline
Chapter 409 Bloodlines
Chapter 410 The Ruiner'S Temple
Chapter 411 Assassin
Chapter 412 The Citadel
Chapter 413 Fruits Of A Poisonous Tree
Chapter 414 The Strength Of Bloodlines
Chapter 415 A Path Forward
Chapter 416 - A Simple Task
Chapter 417 - Breakthrough
Chapter 418 - Final Preparations
Chapter 419 - Into Harm'S Way (1)
Categories Genre: Action, All, Fantasy, Ongoing, Xianxia, Xuanhuan Status: Ongoing ______
Total Chapters in book: 419
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 419 Page No. 418 Page No. 417 Page No. 416 Page No. 415 Page No. 414 Page No. 413 Page No. 412 Page No. 411 Page No. 410 Page No. 409 Chapter 342 Weapons And Training
Chapter 342 Weapons And Training
Arran spent a quarter-hour considering the type of weapon that might be most useful against enemies like dragons and the giant diggers, but the more he pondered the matter, the more options he saw.
A spear would greatly increase his reach, which would help not just against monstrous opponents but also against dense ranks of human enemies. Yet while it would increase his reach, it would also do less damage, especially against armored opponents.
Something like a glaive or halberd would address that problem, but it would sacrifice some reach and speed in favor of damage. And against groups of opponents, weapons like those would leave him exposed with each attack.
Each option he saw would solve some of his problems, but at the price of introducing entirely new ones.
But then, a thought came to him — there was no need to settle on any single choice.
The Living Shadow weapon could take any shape. And if he selected a handful of weapon types and taught it their shapes, it should be able to assume those familiar forms far in a matter of moments.
With that, he would have a small armory at his disposal. He would have the weapon to suit any type of enemy — whether it be a single monster or an entire army.
Because as he'd discovered in the battle against the Darians, a normal sword wasn't ideal against dense ranks of enemies, either. Each attack he'd made had brought him within reach of his enemies' weapons, and he'd suffered several wounds just trying to force his way through their line.
Of course, he could have easily relied on his strength to break their ranks. But that would require him to reveal his full power. And worse, it would only work against enemies as weak as these soldiers had been.
Intent on addressing these problems, he spent a half-hour making a list of weapons that might help him. But the two dozen weapons he came up with were far too many, and he spent another half-hour whittling down the number.
Finally, he cast a satisfied look at the short list before him. Just four weapons remained, and learning to use each of them should benefit him no small amount.
After giving it some thought, he put the list aside. While he could try to have his sword take the shapes he had in mind, it would be far easier to have proper versions crafted, then copy their designs after he'd studied them.
That would take time, but for once, time was something he did not lack. With the mercenaries in the mines for at least several more months, there was little he could do but wait and train.
Fortunately, the quarters Captain Kaleesh had arranged for him included a spacious training room, and it was there that Arran headed after finishing the list of weapons.
There had been little opportunity for him to study the Forms after he arrived in the Imperium. Even if others would not have been able to detect his Shadow Essence, spending several hours standing around making obscure gestures would certainly have drawn attention.
But in his new quarters, he had enough privacy to train properly. And that was an opportunity he would not soon pass up.
He practiced for several hours, finding the Forms every bit as difficult as before as he used Shadow Essence to execute them to the best of his ability.
But although he had memorized them painstakingly, the true challenge wasn't merely to use them. Rather, it was to unearth the insights they contained.
And that would require countless hours of practice.
As expected, a single night's practice yielded little progress. Arran did not let this discourage him. The Forms were a path he'd only barely begun to explore, and he could not expect immediate results.
He studied intently until midnight, continuing until his focus began to waver. Finally, when his mind had grown too weary to continue, he headed to bed.
The day of study had left him exhausted, and his thoughts slipped away as soon as his blankets touched his skin.
When morning came, he ate a quick meal of digger meat, then set to work once more, studying Captain Kaleesh's manuscripts.
Here, at least, he knew he was making progress. While he was still far from fully understanding the details and nuances of the manuscripts, with each hour he spent studying his comprehension grew.
The more he learned, the more impressed he found himself with the documents. The captain's own writings, in particular, contained a wealth of knowledge, more than a person could gather in a lifetime.
And the diagrams, too, slowly began to make sense to Arran. While he'd previously wondered what the abstract schematics could teach about the fury of battle, he now saw that there was something to them — something that could almost be called beautiful.
The diagrams distilled battle lines into abstract forms, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and the battles they described were like duels between master swordsmen — only wielding armies rather than swords as their weapons.
Still, when midday came, Arran found himself predictably weary.
For all their beauty, the diagrams and their explanations were fiendishly complex, and a morning of study left Arran every bit as exhausted as he would've been after an entire day of hard training.
But another meal did much to replenish his energy, and as he ate, he felt the Natural Essence in the digger meat fill his body, the Blood Ruin greedily devouring it and adding it to his strength.
He could not help but be relieved that he'd found the digger meat. While most of his strength had already recovered from his time in the Shadow Realm, the gap that still remained would have been hard to close without the meat he'd won in the mines.
Now, however, it should only be a matter of weeks before he'd recovered the last of his strength. And after that, he would soon surpass his previous peak.
When he finished the meal, he left his quarters and headed into the camp, intending to spend an hour or two training with his group of mercenaries. This was another task he could not neglect — not if he was to lead the mercenaries into battle.
But he was surprised to find that none of them were present in the camp. Nor, for that matter, were most of the other mercenaries.
Yet he did find Captain Kaleesh, who was sat at a table in front of his quarters, a ponderous frown on his face as he wrote in a small notebook.
The captain did not see Arran approach until he was within half a dozen paces of the man. When he finally heard his commander approach, he looked up with puzzled eyes.
"Finished your studies already?" the captain asked. "Morning has barely begun — you should spend at least a few more hours studying."
"It's past midday," Arran replied. "Where are the troops?"
"Past midday?" The captain glanced at the sky, making an ugly face when he saw that Arran had not lied. "Time passes too quickly. As for the troops, they're in the mines. Gar and Sassun cleared out the last of the diggers last night, and I want to get as much work as possible done before Kadun's men arrive."
"Kadun's men?" Arran raised an eyebrow. "Isn't the overseer one of Kadun's men?"
The captain shook his head. "The overseer has no power. But when Kadun — or rather, his stewards — find out that the lower levels are clear, it won't be long before they send people to get in our way. We have a week or two, at most."
Arran looked at the captain in confusion. "Why would they get in our way? Don't they benefit from our work?"
Captain Kaleesh let out a sharp laugh. "They sent us here to fail, so they could break the deal I made with them. Once they discover that we — or you, rather — have put a stop to their plans, I imagine they won't waste any time in finding new ways to get in our way."
At this, Arran could only sigh. "Will there be trouble?"
The captain frowned, then shook his head. "Not trouble, exactly. Or least, nothing we can't handle. But the more we get done before they arrive, the better."
"I suppose we'll find out soon enough," Arran said. Whatever happened, he had little choice but to trust in the captain's plans. And after studying the manuscripts, he was confident that Captain Kaleesh had already prepared for whatever difficulties they would face. "But I had a question to ask of you. There are some supplies I need."
"Supplies?" The captain gave Arran a puzzled look. "What kind of supplies?"
"I need some weapons," Arran said, then handed over the list of weapons he'd made the previous night.
The captain studied the list for some moments, and when he looked up again, there was some confusion in his eyes. "Some of these, I understand," he said. "A good spear could certainly be useful, and poleaxes have their uses. Even the staff makes sense." A frown crossed his face, and he continued, "But this last one… it sounds impractical, to say the least."
Arran shrugged. "It's just something I want to try. If it doesn't work out, I'll still have my sword to use. Can you arrange it?"
"I can," the captain replied. "I'll try to have it made in a week — if only to see what you'll do with that thing."
"Thanks," Arran said. Then, with a glance at the mines' entrance, he asked, "Should I join my men in the mines? I should be of some help."
Captain Kaleesh shook his head. "Focus on your training and studies. Right now, that's more important than another miner."
Arran nodded thoughtfully, a small smile appearing on his face. A few weeks to focus on his training would certainly be useful.
Total Chapters in book: 419
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
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