Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 87: Chapter 40 Breakthrough “10 Cities

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A drop of black blood from nowhere fell on Tachibana Muneshige’s neck. Li Yan, armored and sharp, held the green-tinged Biyuan Sword and the pristine Hatsuyuki Sword, which reflected each other’s brilliance.

The two confronted each other for a short while…

Clouds spread and rolled away, iron horses crossed frozen rivers.

Legendary Sword Biyuan

Category: Weapon

Quality: Rare

Sharpness: 40 (Ordinary weapons are below 10 by default)

Inherent Attribute: Green Wave (3% attack power transferred into true damage)

To eliminate traitors for the country, to employ strategy and bait—no great deed can be done without significant benefit!

Note: This was the treasured sword given to Li Chengliang by a Great Ming general before his death. For some reason, Li Chengliang never talked about the true owner of the sword.

“It doesn’t fit my hand well, but its attributes suit me,” Li Yan said.

Compared to Ring Dragon, Biyuan was a lot lighter, and it was natural for Li Yan, who was accustomed to heavy swords, not to favor it. However, the true damage from Green Wave, coupled with Blood Dip, was like adding wings to a tiger for him.

At first, Tachibana Muneshige was extremely surprised by Li Yan’s appearance, but he quickly regained his composure. That night, this Ming person had been stabbed in the chest and seriously injured, but considering the Heavenly Master Tao of Ming Country, under potent medicine, it was possible for him to recover in a short time.

But the damage to the powerful and strange Wild God Team could not be replenished. Just one person from Ming wouldn’t have too much impact on the situation.

It would also serve as revenge for an arrow’s grudge!

For Li Yan, the painstakingly formed team had been greatly damaged; over a hundred brothers who entrusted their lives to him were killed or maimed, and his heart was filled with murderous intent.

Yet, for the young and spirited Tachibana Muneshige, to have his commanders killed in front of him one after another was a disgrace of the highest order.

Wearing a sky-blue Feather cloak, Tachibana roared, and his warhorse’s hooves thundered. With a “Tang Zhu” move, the Hatsuyuki Sword came chopping down. Li Yan gripped the treasured sword with four fingers, ignoring the incoming blade, and thrust the main frame of his combat sword towards Tachibana Muneshige’s throat with a heavy, ruthless style.

Tachibana was startled and instinctively drew his sword to block. The latter half of the Hatsuyuki Sword collided with the tip of the Biyuan Sword. Li Yan held his wrist steady and charged forward with the help of his horse’s power. Sparks flew as the Biyuan Sword slid against the Hatsuyuki Sword, enlarging before Tachibana Muneshige’s eyes.

As the swords clashed and rubbed against each other, the horses passed by. The clinging sound of Hatsuyuki and Green Wave resonated incessantly.

Biyuan successively cut through the Feather cloak and armor, leaving a deep wound on Tachibana Muneshige’s shoulder. It is worth mentioning that blood and dark energy entangled in Tachibana’s wound for a while before gradually dissipating.

Taking advantage of the situation, Li Yan reined in his horse and turned back toward Tachibana Muneshige.

A warrior with the Giou guardian emblem on his back saw his chance, primed the gunpowder, hooked the chamber all in one breath, and without even aiming at Li Yan, a stray arrow pierced through his neck. The warrior’s eyes widened, blood frothed from his mouth, his body slanted as the Matchlock Gun flared, the bullet flying off to who knows where.

Ming Cavalry and the Japanese pirate vanguard entangled in pairs. Spears and arrows were stained with blood, and from time to time, someone fell from their horse. Others, pierced by several wounds, cried out in pain but did not die, helplessly watching horseshoes the size of bowls continue to fall…

Name: Tachibana Muneshige (Takahashi Munetora)

Official Position: Junior Fourth Rank Lower Left Guard Monitor (High-ranking Daimyo’s Ghostly Power)

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Status: Successor of the Daimyo (protected by Demonic Strength, all damage reduced by 15%, harm caused by walking through Yan Fu is reduced by 30%)

Specialization: 89% in the Ancient Martial Arts of Dongying (Takahashi Clan Battle Sword Skill)

Active Techniques: Great Iai Slash, Lesser Iai Slash, Flying Horse

Passive Technique: Nirvana (complete recovery from near fatal injury without side effects, consumes all Demonic Strength, temporarily loses the Successor of the Daimyo state)

Sword Gun Tooth (accompanying the Hatsuyuki Sword): Each time weapons clash, a judgment is made, and upon a successful judgment, inflicts intense damage on the opposing weapon with a lower sharpness value, the extent of the damage depends on the difference in sharpness between the two weapons

(Kachiten is the same as the Gun Lance Fang, with corresponding properties)

Remark: Tachibana Muneshige was originally part of the Takahashi Clan before he succeeded his father-in-law, Tachibana Michiyuki, becoming the head of the Tachibana family. With his astonishing talent, he achieved a level of swordsmanship equal to the older generation of famous warlords, prompting Toyotomi Hideyoshi to exclaim him as unmatched in the western countries

Threat Level: Purple-Red (capable of matching the ultimate)

Overall Evaluation: Ten Cities level! (Deputy)

“This madman!” Tachibana Muneshige glanced at the wound on his shoulder, “Does he want us to perish together?”

He sneered coldly, lifted his head to meet Li Yan’s indifferent gaze, and suddenly felt a chill in his heart. That look was not at all like that of a desperado who had lost his reason. It was more like a tiger from the northeast, lying in wait among the snow-capped mountains for its prey

Li Yan’s Biyuan Sword pointed straight at Tachibana Muneshige. His intent to kill was unmistakable

“He’s sure that I don’t dare to fight to the death,”

Tachibana Muneshige thought somewhat embarrassingly

That day, Li Yan rode fast through a downpour, challenging several Japanese warriors, but was pierced through the chest by three thrusts from Honda Tadakatsu. Tachibana Muneshige believed himself to be no less than that unrivaled swordmaster from the east, and naturally did not take this man from Great Ming very seriously. Yet, within a short exchange, it was he who suffered a slight disadvantage

This was not a gap that could be bridged by a mere weapon

Tachibana Muneshige took a deep breath, summoning up all his focus

What he did not know was that, when Li Yan had awakened from critical injuries and sought a sword at Li Rusong’s camp, Li Yan’s specialization in Ancient Martial Arts had already increased from 89%+4% to 93%!

Peak breakthrough!

At that moment, Li Yan clearly heard two sentences from a pleasant female voice

“Regrettably, this breakthrough in specialization did not awaken the personal talent of the Esteemed Walker. Please continue to strive.”

“Your overall strength has been evaluated to be at the Ten Cities level, but since a considerable part of it comes from an external force (the Biyuan Sword), you do not qualify to apply for the Ten Cities level Walker review.”

At this moment, Li Yan, despite the Gu Huo Bird not reaching the typical Awakening Degree of 39% required for a Ten Cities level Esteemed Walker, still reached a “Ten Cities” level comparable to Tachibana Muneshige, relying on his high 93% specialization in Ancient Martial Arts and the Biyuan Sword

Li Yan turned his horse around and charged unremittingly at Tachibana Muneshige. Despite Tachibana’s youth, he was seasoned in battle and did not spur his horse forward. Instead, he stared at the falling Biyuan Sword in Li Yan’s hands. Leaning back on his horse, he swung the Hatsuyuki Samurai Sword in an upward slant, chopping at Li Yan’s hand. As Li Yan raised his hand to dodge the blade, Tachibana fiercely tightened his legs around his horse’s midsection and forcefully arched upwards from his waist. The Hatsuyuki Sword naturally thrust toward Li Yan’s chest!

“Not good!”

The sinking feeling in his heart was not Li Yan’s, but Tachibana Muneshige’s. As he rose up in his signature thrust, what should have been a proud improvisation turned sour. Li Yan, who appeared forced to raise his hand under pressure, simply flipped his wrist gracefully. The Biyuan Sword drew an arc, its tip pointing upwards, radiating cold light. It was as though Tachibana Muneshige had thrown himself upon Li Yan’s sword!