Chapter 84: Shiranui Bloodline

"Shiranui Hanzou!"

Seeing the elderly man appear, Tsukimi Soukaku let out a growl, and his followers gripped their weapons tightly.

Soukaku clenched his staff, his face twisted with anger as he took a determined step forward.

"You're here just in time, Shiranui Hanzou! I think it's about time we settle the grudges between our two clans once and for all!"

Hanzou, his hands still calmly clasped behind his back, nodded slightly.

"That would be ideal. You fools can join me in hell!"

At this, Soukaku raised his staff as his aura surged with energy.

"Then who among you will come at me first?"

As Soukaku took his stance, Hanzou made no move to attack. Instead, he stepped aside and spoke in a cold, unyielding tone.

"Ming! You're up. Let's see you hone your Shiranui skills on him."

As Hanzou's words faded, footsteps echoed from inside the dojo.

A hand appeared on the doorframe, and Qin Ming stepped out with a blank expression.

Soukaku's eyes widened with fury as he recognized him.

"It's you! So it was you! You really are with the Shiranui clan, you damn murderer! How dare you ambush and kill my disciples!"

But before Soukaku could continue, Hanzou interrupted him, his voice steely.

"Before pointing fingers, don't forget who started this! Ten years ago, it was you who waged war on us. I'm merely settling old scores. Don't try to play the victim."

Hearing this, Soukaku took a deep breath. He, too, had fought in that war and knew well that the Tsukimi clan was at fault. Yet, the anger inside him surged, and he raised his staff with a shout.

"If we're to fight to the death, then let's have it out! You! Let's settle this here and now!"

With a roar, Soukaku pressed his palms together in a seal, and a phantom projection erupted from his body.

C-Rank Skill: Demon Staff Dance!

Seeing Soukaku come at him with his clan's signature move, Qin Ming's pupils contracted. He spread his arms wide, roaring as he launched his own version of the Sonic Hand Slash.

But this time, there was a drastic change in Qin Ming's Sonic Hand Slash—the blade wasn't formed of mere air but of blazing fire.

A scorching wave of heat filled the air as two spiraling currents fused with the flames, shooting forward with terrifying speed, shattering the phantom apparition and hurtling toward Soukaku.

Enhanced Skill: Shiranui-Style Sonic Hand Slash!

After completing the Shiranui initiation mission and gaining Hanzou's full approval, Qin Ming had not only become a direct disciple, unlocked the exchange options, and activated title tasks but also gained a hidden reward—Hanzou had imparted to him a fragment of the Shiranui clan's power.

The Shiranui bloodline boasted a power of its own, one that could be passed on. This was the true privilege of being a Shiranui disciple.

This was why even outsiders like Andy could wield Shiranui fire techniques—he, too, had inherited a portion of the Shiranui bloodline.

And now, Qin Ming had received the same.

In other words, Qin Ming had unlocked a fourth skill.

Skill: Shiranui Bloodline

Grade: C-Rank

Effect: Imbues all techniques with the power of fire, adding additional flame damage.

Description: The legendary power of the Shiranui clan, rumored to have been inherited from the nine-tailed fox spirit, granting control over ethereal flames. However, this bloodline power is incomplete.

The Shiranui clan's power was said to be the fox spirit's "shiranui" flames, a scorching fire that could melt flesh and bone.

Meanwhile, the Tsukimi clan's power, inherited from the god Tsukuyomi, granted them the strength to ward off and subdue demons.

This natural opposition was the ancient source of the grudge between the two clans, and the reason why they had been at odds for generations.

And now, with this fragment of Shiranui power, Qin Ming's Sonic Hand Slash had evolved into the Flaming Sonic Hand Slash, with its power significantly amplified.

A fiery spiral wheel tore through the air, cleaving into one of the pillars at the dojo's entrance.

In an instant, the thick wooden post split in two, the cut igniting into blazing flames.

Soukaku jumped back to evade, his face paling as he used his staff to anchor himself and dodge Qin Ming's relentless hand slashes. Regaining his footing, Soukaku slammed his staff into the ground, summoning his own dark specter.

Ultimate Skill: Demon God Array!

Showing his true intentions to kill, Soukaku was clearly enraged and ready to fight to the death.

Now enveloped by the phantom demon god, Qin Ming braced himself, planting his feet and drawing power into his arms as he unleashed his strongest skill.

Charged Sonic Hand Slash!

A resounding boom filled the air, and the menacing phantom demon was sliced in two by the fiery blade.

The weakened flaming hand slash ripped through the demon god projection and struck Soukaku, sending him flying.

But the phantom demon god did not vanish; it charged forward and struck Qin Ming as well.

Qin Ming was sent rolling across the ground, tumbling twice before he finally dug his fingers into the dirt to stop his momentum. On one knee, he coughed, and blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Despite his defense, that weakened ultimate skill had still dealt serious damage. Was this the true strength of a fully enraged story character?

He wiped the blood from his mouth as he stood up.

Across from him, Soukaku used his staff to stabilize himself as he stopped his backward slide, his expression equally grim.

Gripping his weapon tightly, Soukaku prepared to use his final trump card, Tsukimi's ultimate killing move: No Mercy Bullet—a skill capable of crushing Qin Ming into the ground.

But before he could activate his move, a chilling sensation washed over him as his disciples' voices rang out in terror.

"Master, look out!"

"Headmaster!"

Hearing their frantic shouts, Soukaku glanced at the panicked Tsukimi disciples sprinting toward him. His pupils contracted, and without hesitation, he activated his survival skill.

Flame Vortex Array!

Using his staff as leverage, he spun into a flaming whirlwind, rocketing forward.

But he had only managed to move halfway when a deafening blast and a wave of heat erupted from behind him. A second blazing fireball surged forward, slamming into Soukaku's back.

Ultimate Skill: Ninja Bee!