From Abyssal Invasion to Bursting Stars with a Single Sword-Chapter 132 - 115: Spirit Resistance Ring, Top Ten Masters of Fusang Swordsmanship

Hearing Kenji Ono's words, Lu Heng couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

When he saw Hideyoshi Tsugawa just now, Lu Heng had thought that one of the two team contract slots Kenji Ono wanted might be for Hideyoshi Tsugawa.

Hearing him say it outright was still a bit surprising.

Yesterday, during his breakthrough in swordsmanship, he watched Hideyoshi Tsugawa's videos and simulated his retreating strike technique in his mind, finally breaking through the bottleneck in swordsmanship.

Based on the known data, Hideyoshi Tsugawa was indeed very strong; it was hard to say who had the higher realm of swordsmanship if they confronted each other directly.

Lu Heng had three years of reborn memories, while Hideyoshi Tsugawa had already been the champion of Fusang Swordsmanship competitions three years ago.

Those who reach the pinnacle in a certain field always have far greater perseverance than ordinary people.

If he disregarded identity and character and only considered combat power, Hideyoshi Tsugawa's strength was definitely sufficient to be a teammate.

However, choosing teammates wasn't just about strength; trust was even more important.

Lu Heng looked into Kenji Ono's eyes and asked, "And the other slot?"

Kenji Ono didn't immediately answer, but after pondering for a moment, he said, "The other slot, I can't tell you about right now, but I can assure you that this person will definitely not hold you back."

With the multinational consortium behind Chunshang Group as backing, someone could spend 650 million to buy two slots and even have ten of Fusang's top swordsmen as bodyguards.

Just how significant was this person's background?

"What do you think, Mr. Lu?" Kenji Ono asked again.

"I'm curious, have you not found any other means of securing backers? Preferably within a team, you have control over three people," Lu Heng stared into his eyes.

"Because I trust Mr. Lu's character and also hope to become friends with Mr. Lu," Kenji Ono replied very sincerely.

If it were someone else, they might have been moved by his sincerity.

However.

Lu Heng understood all too well how cruel the Abyss invasion era was.

A team contract indeed could sign up to five people, but the added members could also disappear — as long as they died.

Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.

That is to say, after the two people joined the team, they could use external forces to artificially control the team's numbers.

Furthermore, reducing team numbers could also lower the combat power rating when the team is summoned.

That is to say.

The team contract's limit is five people, but that doesn't mean they necessarily must have five.

Of course.

Lu Heng also believed that Kenji Ono definitely wanted to win him over, as at the current stage, a Quenching Master was much more valuable than a top-tier Superpower User.

However, there was a limit to the value of interests, and if the person he was protecting faced danger, even a Quenching Master could be sacrificed.

Lu Heng could imagine that if he really agreed to the other party's request to give them two slots and form a team.

The Chunshang Group would likely offer a substantial benefit and reconcile with the Lin Family.

Additionally, with the presence of a team contract, it might indeed be possible to peacefully resolve the matter and form a team with strong nominal combat power.

However, such a fragile team relationship was not what Lu Heng wanted.

"Let's forget it, I have other plans for forming a team," Lu Heng finally chose to refuse.

Kenji Ono's expression faltered, then he turned to glance at Hideyoshi Tsugawa.

Hideyoshi Tsugawa spoke up, "Do you think my strength isn't qualified to be your teammate?"

Lu Heng looked at him, smiled suddenly, and replied, "Not at all."

Hideyoshi Tsugawa stood up, issuing a challenge with a serious tone, "I am the successor of the Kashima Shinryū swordsmanship, and I heard you are also a swordsman, so let's decide with swords.

"A duel. If I win, hand over the two slots of that team contract, dare to compete?"

"And what if I win?" Lu Heng asked with a smile lacing his tone, composed.

At that moment.

Kenji Ono took out a jewelry box, placed it on the table, and opened it to display its contents.

Inside was a cast iron ring, the very one sold for eighty million at the Ultimate Auction previously.

And this cast iron ring was known as the "Spirit Resistance Ring."

During the auction, the display screen had shown the attributes of this ring.

"Spirit Resistance Ring: Improves resistance to spirit attacks and spiritual pollution, reducing the effects by 50% when subjected to spiritual pollution or spirit attacks."

This ring was very practical.

Wearing this ring on the Abyss Battlefield would allow one to withstand spiritual pollution for a longer time.

For instance, the last time Lu Heng entered the Abyss World and killed the Horned Demon Commander, having this ring would have provided much more time, reducing the urgency.

Besides, it also increased resistance to spirit attacks.

For example, Spirit Shock skills, based on the difference in spiritual attributes, could cause a temporary spiritual disruption, and if the spiritual difference was too significant, it could even knock someone unconscious directly.

In a battle of equals, if one were hit by a Spirit Shock, experiencing a few seconds of daze could mean certain death.

Wearing this Spirit Resistance Ring would achieve greater resistance to spirit attacks, allowing one to recover more quickly from the confusion caused by spiritual disruption.

Therefore, the lower a Superpower User's spiritual attribute, the higher the demand for this ring.

Lu Heng's Spiritual Attribute wasn't low, but facing the Spiritual Pollution of the Abyss Battlefield, this ring was indeed a fully practical treasure.

At the last Ultimate Auction, Lu Heng had shown great interest in this ring.

The ring itself did not increase Combat Power, and Lu Heng felt that not everyone might recognize its value.

If the auction price wasn't too high, he considered trying to acquire it at a low price.

However, there were knowledgeable people at the event; the price was bid up to 80 million, far exceeding his affordable range.

Unexpectedly, now the ring had appeared before him again.

Kenji Ono smiled and said, "If Mr. Lu wins, how about I give you this ring as a gift?"

Lu Heng had been interested in this ring during the auction, and sadly the price had been too high. Now, the other party was using it as a bet, which perfectly suited his wishes.

"Okay, let's have me experience the latest in Fusang Swordsmanship."

"Mr. Lu, please."

The three left the teahouse and entered another room, the Sword Room.

The room was spacious and quiet.

"Hideyoshi Tsugawa usually practices swordsmanship here. You can duel here," Kenji Ono called to a maid at the door.

Two maids came in holding wooden swords, respectfully handing them to Lu Heng and Hideyoshi Tsugawa.

These wooden swords were used in Fusang Swordsmanship competitions; they were thick, edgeless, with rounded tips.

In swordsmanship competitions, points were scored by striking valid parts of the opponent's body, earning one point per hit.

Usually, the competitors also needed to wear protective gear to prevent injuries from the swords.

Although they were just wooden swords, they had a significant weight, and a hit to the head without protective gear could easily knock someone unconscious.

Two maids entered with two sets of protective gear, ready to help them suit up.

Lu Heng looked at the wooden sword in his hand; for a Superpower User, using a wooden sword was rather childlike. He then said, "We don't need protective gear, do we?"

"I also dislike protective gear," Hideyoshi Tsugawa waved his hand, signaling the maids to leave.

He didn't even like wooden swords and preferred to fight with real weapons.

However, this match had been arranged by Kenji Ono, with the intent to conquer Lu Heng with swordsmanship and then win him over.

Lu Heng swung the wooden sword a few times. Since this type of wooden sword was specific to Fusang and he had never used it before, he wasn't very accustomed to it, causing some awkwardness when he performed the Step Sword Seven Styles.

Fortunately, his Strength attribute was high enough that this clumsiness was within an acceptable range.

"Please!" Hideyoshi Tsugawa, following Fusang Swordsmanship etiquette, bowed and assumed a starting position.

Lu Heng also raised his sword, adjusted his breathing, and locked eyes with his opponent.

Since he had seen footage of his opponent's previous matches, he knew that Hideyoshi Tsugawa's swordsmanship was very advanced, and having improved over three years, he needed to be very cautious.

"Ha!"

Hideyoshi Tsugawa waited for Lu Heng to ready his stance, then shouted as he initiated an attack aimed at Lu Heng's arm.

This move was a basic Skill Attack from the Fusang Swordsmanship Nine Forms Thirteen Strokes, meant to score points.

A successful hit would score one point.

For ordinary people, attacking the arms might be useful, but for a Superpower User with Agility of 62 points, there were too many dodging options; a slight movement of the arm could avoid the attack.

As if he had already anticipated this, Hideyoshi Tsugawa's eyes suddenly sparkled as he switched techniques to a flurry of moves from the Nine Forms Thirteen Strokes.

Lu Heng, unfamiliar with Fusang Swordsmanship, fought purely according to the Step Sword Seven Styles. Anticipating the flurry of blows, he easily blocked the combination with a swing of his sword.

The swift and successive attacks were all smoothly parried by Lu Heng, confirming to Hideyoshi Tsugawa that Lu Heng was not an opponent to be easily defeated.

Three years ago, when he won the Fusang Swordsmanship championship, he was already recognized as one of the top ten masters in Fusang.

At that time, there were few in Fusang who qualified as his competition, let alone those unskilled in swordsmanship.

Three years had passed and he had become a Superpower User, achieving Extraordinary Power.

For someone untrained in swordsmanship, they wouldn't last a move against him, Superpower Users included.

Yet Lu Heng had easily countered his two attacks. Although he employed a basic Skill Attack Technique that seemed neither intricate nor cunning, the more fundamental the sword technique, the more effective it was.

Hideyoshi Tsugawa's breath deepened as he focused, ready to demonstrate his true capabilities.

Lu Heng also sensed the change in his aura, grounded his stance, and entered a formal combat state.

To duel a powerful swordsmanship master was a rare opportunity.

Especially when precision was required in swordsmanship, an equal level challenge was needed to break through limitations.

Lu Heng also wanted to test whether his swordsmanship, elevated to the Conception Level, could truly dominate this Fusang sword master.

Shout!

Both parties, intent on proving their superiority, simultaneously burst forth with their swords.

Bang bang bang…

A series of rapid clashes followed, their sword speeds far exceeding the usual limits of swordsmanship.

Lu Heng wielded Chop, Stab, Point, Break, Pick, Cut, Sweep — all fundamental sword techniques.

Hideyoshi Tsugawa employed the Skill Attack Methods of the Nine Forms Thirteen Strokes, aiming for speed.

The two men advanced and retreated, their movements so fast that the average human eye could scarcely follow. Within a few breaths, they had exchanged over a dozen blows, matched in strength and skill, neither able to best the other.