The Ascension of Contracted Spirits

Chapter 368 - 181: Eight Battle Axe of the Horizon, Canghai’s Ten Talents_3

"I am Tan Ziping, the ninth of the Ten Talents."

"I’ve heard that Tianyafu Residence boasts the Eight Battleaxes, each an unparalleled talent. I wonder which brother is willing to enlighten me?"

Tan Ziping leisurely steps into the center, his icy voice echoing throughout the hall.

"I accept!"

A slim tall man performs a front flip, stylishly stepping onto the stage.

With a flick of his hand, markings on his palm light up and dim, and a large blue locust appears at his feet.

"Hiss!!"

It’s a Fond Spirit called the ’Blue Locust,’ a rare agile creature.

Its sharp teeth and ultra-strong digestive fluid are particularly feared by Patrons who are involved in reclaiming wasteland and planting medicinal herbs.

"Wu Helin, the Eighth Battleaxe, your move!"

The lean man utters eight words, then stomps his foot as the last word falls. The Blue Locust immediately launches its attack.

"Swoosh swoosh swoosh!!"

As a D-Class Calligrapher, Tan Ziping’s fighting style is entirely different from that of ordinary Patrons.

Others command their Contracted Spirit Fond Spirits first, then supplement with their Abilities.

Tan Ziping’s Passive Abilities are ’Pen Movement’ and ’Ink Chain.’ When stimulated, he uses paper as a pen and Fond Spirits as ink, most of the time operating in reverse.

As soon as the Blue Locust lunges forward, a black thread links it to the Poison Ink Octopus.

That is Tan Ziping’s Contracted Spirit, a Demon beast, which carries both paralyzing and blinding toxins.

As the thread connects, his fingertips immediately darken.

Tan Ziping starts to write in the air, surprisingly forming the character for "Mountain."

"Boom!!"

As soon as the character for "Mountain" is formed, a phantom mountain thirty feet high appears five meters in front of him.

Upon crashing into the mountain, the Blue Locust utters a painful shriek and immediately maintains distance for a re-evaluation of the situation.

"There it is, Senior Tan’s ’Mysterious Characters’!"

"This Active Ability can be upgraded once at every stage!"

"Each upgrade broadens its capacities. Since Senior Tan is at the second stage, he can generate two types of Mysterious Characters!"

Beneath the stage, both the students of Canghai Pavilion and Tianyafu Residence are watching intently.

This is Ye Hanjun’s first time witnessing Tan Ziping fight at full strength, so he is also observing carefully.

The D-Class Calligrapher, an interesting occupation indeed.

Its extensibility is remarkably high. For instance, these Mysterious Characters, depending on what type of effect the owner wants. They repeatedly practice a character, thereby imprinting special law/principle powers.

Writing ’Mountain’ forms a mountain barrier for defense;

Writing ’Whip’ forms a whip shadow that sweeps across everything;

Writing ’Heal’ heals oneself and restores the state;

Writing ’Illusion’ forms a technique that deceives perception;

Writing ’Shadow’ forms numerous ghostly shadows that instill a chilling atmosphere;

Writing ’Speed’ forms a whirlwind for protection and enhanced movement speed;

...

Each character, due to the empowerment of the Ability, exhibits extraordinary traits.

The only downside is that the Mysterious Characters are deep and profound. Once they’re determined to have a single protective effect, they can’t easily be changed.

That is, besides "Mountain," Tan Ziping can only inscribe one other Mysterious Character.

"Swoosh swoosh swoosh——"

Before the mountain dissipates, Tan Ziping switches Abilities.

Calligraphers have two major Active Abilities. Besides ’Mysterious Characters,’ there is also ’Bind Words to Body.’

He points at the Blue Locust in the distance and swings his ink repeatedly. Black, ghostly characters flood towards it like a deluge.

The quick Blue Locust still finds space to dodge amidst the chaos.

Yet its Patron is in a predicament. As an E-Class Bug Catcher, Wu Helin’s Active Ability is to ’Weave Insect Nets.’

The nets he throws fail to touch Tan Ziping or the Poison Ink Octopus.

The incoming characters, on the other hand, persistently lung at him. They seep right through and erode whether it’s his bare skin or Armor.

"Hiss!"

Finally finding an opportunity, the Blue Locust circles around the mountain and charges at Tan Ziping from the back.

Tan Ziping doesn’t look back. Instead, the Poison Ink Octopus at his feet spews a mouthful of ink to repel it.

After several rounds of negotiation, the onlooking Zhou Yi’s face gradually turns green.

Everyone knows that a Calligrapher’s characters will be amplified based on the attributes of their Contracted Spirit.

If contracted with a Fire Attribute Demon beast, the written characters are extremely hot and branding the skin produces a burning effect.

If contracted with an Ice Attribute beast, naturally the characters are ice-cold, progressively leading to the stiffening of an active body.

If contracted with a robust and defensive Savage beast, the written characters have the effect of replenishing vitality and accelerating wound healing. The Calligrapher then becomes a battlefield assistant, offering healing aid to their teammates.

...

Innovation is indeed the advantage of artistic occupations.

Tan Ziping is contracted with the ’Poison Ink Octopus,’ and inherently, the octopus’s poison infiltrates the enemies’ bodies through the characters.

With nowhere to run and nothing to dodge, Wu Helin swiftly succumbs to the poison, stumbling around, barely able to walk - let alone battle properly.

"Swoosh——"

Tan Ziping writes the second Mysterious Character.

Surprisingly, his painstakingly researched second Mysterious Character is "Laugh."

As he writes "Laugh," it marks onto Wu Helin’s chest like an inky bird flying at a high velocity.

He suddenly bursts out laughing, laughing so hard he can’t straighten his back, coughing in between.

These astonishing emotional changes accelerate his blood flow, which causes the accumulated toxins to rapidly rush into his heart.

Xiong Tao floating in the air, appearing unaffected, interrupts calmly.

"Wu Helin has lost. Tan Ziping wins."

"This round, Canghai Pavilion wins."

"Cleanliness Master, please treat him to prevent the toxins from taking root."

"Peep..."

A Light Attribute avian creature spews a beam of light, taking away Wu Helin and the Blue Locust.

The battlefield is silent for a few seconds, and then another person climbs onto the stage, stirring up frenzy amongst the spectators.

It’s a blonde man with rough skin, even displaying some cracked textures.

Earthy brown rose patterns bloom on both his arms. The gray rat in front of him squeals with startling intensity at the provocation, its warlike intent targeting Tan Ziping’s forehead.

"The Seventh Battleaxe of Tianyafu Residence — Ren!"

"He’s an Earth Element Magic Apprentice. Perhaps he can counter the ’Calligrapher’!"

"Senior Ren, let’s go! Victory is certain!!"