Lang Qingshan was startled and instinctively tried to dodge, but he was currently incarnated as a rusty sword — not his original body at all. Hampered by his limited mobility, he simply toppled over.
He was nothing more than a rusty sword now. If struck by such a blow, he would likely snap clean in two.
Clang! Yang Kai swept in from the side, intercepting the rusty sword before it could land its strike. The impact sent a shudder through his blade, sending flakes of rust scattering into the air.
Lang Qingshan was still dazed, but Yang Kai had already locked into a furious exchange with the rusty sword, shouting as he fought: "Get it!"
No longer hesitating, Lang Qingshan flipped himself upright and charged in from the flank to attack in concert.
Inside the Small Mystery World, Lai Zi Tou and the others watched with jaws agape. Three rusty swords of similar appearance were going at each other with blazing ferocity — the sight was bizarre no matter how you looked at it.
This was the first time either Yang Kai or Lang Qingshan had fought in such a peculiar form, and under the suppressive laws of this world, they couldn't wield even a shred of their own power. In the beginning, neither was accustomed to their new state, and they were struck by the rusty sword several times, leaving a number of notches along their blades.
However, as time wore on, the two gradually grew accustomed to everything about their transformed bodies. Combining their efforts, they hammered the rusty sword until it could only defend itself.
In less than the time it took to finish half a cup of tea, Yang Kai brought his sword down in a final cleave, and the rusty sword shattered on the spot, exploding into countless fragments that scattered in every direction.
Yang Kai and Lang Qingshan halted their movements and stared at each other, both rendered speechless.
Though the battle hadn't lasted long, it had been grueling enough. Both Yang Kai and Lang Qingshan's sword forms bore additional notches from the fight. They had already been rusty swords to begin with — with these new marks, they likely wouldn't survive another round.
Just then, from among the fragments of the shattered rusty sword, a faint glow suddenly burst forth and shot into Yang Kai's body.
Immediately, the notches on Yang Kai's blade began to rapidly mend, restoring him to wholeness in short order. Not only that, but some of the rust on his surface flaked away, and Yang Kai could feel an unfamiliar surge of power welling up within him.
"My lord, what is this…?" Lang Qingshan looked over, bewildered, not understanding why Yang Kai had undergone such a change.
Yang Kai probed the sensation for a moment, and his eyes lit up: "I see it now. There's a peculiar energy inside these swords that can nourish and strengthen us — and the one it nourishes is whoever delivers the finishing blow!"
That rusty sword had been destroyed by Yang Kai, so the energy within it had flowed naturally into Yang Kai's body, leaving nothing for Lang Qingshan.
Lang Qingshan's understanding dawned. "So that's how it works! In that case, my lord — shouldn't we go find more of these things?"
"Naturally." Yang Kai nodded, his blade trembling slightly with excitement. "And I suspect that the key to unraveling the mystery of this world lies right here!"
Without further hesitation, the two swords went hopping along together on their way.
Before long, three swords came bounding toward them head-on. These, too, were rusty swords — they looked as though no one had touched them in years.
Yang Kai exchanged a glance with Lang Qingshan. The latter spoke: "My lord, I'll draw away two of them. You take down the remaining one, then come help me!"
"Be careful," Yang Kai cautioned.
Lang Qingshan acknowledged the order and charged straight at the trio of swords. After just a few hops, they spotted him and immediately bounced toward him at speed. Lang Qingshan turned and fled, while Yang Kai cut in sideways, locking onto one of the rusty swords and hammering it relentlessly until he had drawn its full attention.
Having received nourishment from a previous victory, Yang Kai's sword form was in better shape — its surface more intact, its appearance improved, its edge a touch sharper, and its movements more agile. In a one-on-one engagement, this rusty sword was no match for him at all.
In no time at all, Yang Kai shattered it. As expected, a stream of peculiar energy surged from the fragments and into his body, bringing another sensation of growing power.
Before he could savor the feeling, Lang Qingshan had already led the other two rusty swords back. Yang Kai charged in to meet them head-on, fighting one against two. With Lang Qingshan assisting from the flanks, the pair quickly destroyed both swords as well.
Yang Kai yielded the finishing blows on both rusty swords to Lang Qingshan, allowing him to grow stronger and catch up to Yang Kai's level.
Over the following stretch of time, the two hunted ceaselessly, growing ever more powerful.
This was a world of swords, governed by peculiar laws. Every warrior who entered this world was transformed into a sword, unable to access even a fraction of their original strength.
The swords varied in power — one could generally gauge a sword's strength by its appearance. When Yang Kai and Lang Qingshan had first arrived, they had both been rusty swords, the lowest form of existence. After slaying several swords and absorbing their nourishment, the rust on their blades had fallen away to reveal bronze, gleaming with the luster of polished metal.
After a time, the bronze gave way to black iron, many times stronger than before.
The two had perfected their coordination and cut a bloody swath forward. Even with only two of them, they faced enemies dozens of times their number without flinching, and they frequently annihilated every last foe.
The most perilous encounter came when they provoked a silver sword. It hunted them for an entire day and night, and Lang Qingshan — shielding Yang Kai's retreat — was nearly bisected at the waist. Only Yang Kai's desperate counterattack saved him; otherwise, the consequences were unthinkable. Those watching from within the Small Mystery World had been terrified to the core.
Nearly a month of exploration later, the two had built a thorough understanding of this world.