Something pierced through the air.
Varesh’s pupils contracted.
His Sword Body reacted before his conscious mind could while his Sword Mind took control of his body.
His torso shifted slightly.
That was all.
He didn’t retreat.
He didn’t attempt to dodge completely.
His instincts told him something extremely dangerous was coming. If he tried to flee, the attack might follow him.
Therefore, he made the only decision that was safe and possible in that instant.
Let it hit.
Puff!
A spectral arrow suddenly pierced through his chest. It was as if it had manifested from thin air.
Varesh’s body trembled and his eyes widened. The arrow had entered from the front, piercing straight through his body and emerging from his back.
Just above his heart.
Only a hair’s breadth separated the arrow’s trajectory from his heart.
Blood immediately spilled from the wound.
The spectral arrow remained lodged in his chest for an instant.
Its surface was covered in mysterious runes.
Then—
Hummm...
The runes simply disappeared, making the arrow fade into nothingness.
There was no lingering energy and no opportunity for the arrow to cause further damage as it had fulfilled its purpose.
Varesh stood frozen.
For several moments, he couldn’t process what had happened.
He slowly lowered his gaze.
A tiny hole had appeared in his chest.
Blood began flowing from it.
It soaked into his black robe.
A drop of blood slid down his waist and fell onto the ground.
Drip.
Varesh’s expression was one of genuine shock.
He touched the wound.
His fingers came away covered in blood.
His heart was still beating.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Only then did he realize it.
He had almost died.
The arrow had missed his heart by an unimaginably small distance.
If he had moved even slightly differently or if he had attempted to flee instead of accepting the attack, that arrow would have managed to pierce his heart.
And a late-stage Lord-level cultivator could still die if his heart was destroyed by an attack of that level.
Varesh’s breathing became heavier.
His eyes slowly shifted toward Aksai.
Aksai had stopped moving.
His expression was equally solemn.
His hand remained raised.
The black-and-crimson Natal Sword suddenly flew toward Varesh on its own in an attempt to intercept the incoming threat. But obviously, it was too late.
The Void Arrow had already disappeared.
Varesh stared at Aksai.
"You..."
His voice was low.
There were too many emotions inside that single word. A concoction of shock, anger, confusion was quickly brewed in his mind with a dash of fear.
And there was something else that was added a moment later.
It was a realization.
He had underestimated this man again.
Varesh clutched the wound on his chest.
His fingers trembled slightly.
Then he looked toward the direction from which the arrow had come.
His Sword Sense immediately locked onto the source.
On the other side of the isolation layer—
Something stood quietly in the fog.
Varesh’s eyes narrowed.
Since the isolation layer was parted to create a gap big enough to let the arrow pass, Varesh could see the one who had attacked him.
It was a miniature woodland creature.
At first glance, it looked like a strange tree-like existence.
Its body resembled the small woodland clone Aksai had previously used.
Almost like a certain Groot-like creature. However, its size had increased somewhat from its first appearance. (Chapter 745)
It was now barely large enough to wield the enormous bow in its hands.
And that bow—
Varesh’s expression changed.
His Sword Sense swept across the weapon.
His pupils contracted.
Late-stage 3rd Order.
No.
That wasn’t quite right.
Its power was extremely close to the threshold of an early-stage 4th Order artifact.
The artifact radiated an ancient and dangerous aura.
Varesh immediately understood.
That was where the attack had originated.
The woodland clone slowly lowered the bow.
A faint Void energy still lingered around its wooden body.
This was Aksai’s Woodland Clone’s adolescent form.
And the bow in its hands was none other than the artifact Aksai had acquired from Saarken, the former leader of Kalingoot. (Chapter 694)
Aksai had assigned the bow to the Woodland Clone before approaching Varesh.
With his life-and-death battle, he had managed to lower Varesh’s guard, making him bold enough to separate his natal sword from him. All of his struggles were to create this tiny window of opportunity.
The clone had apparently waited patiently for the perfect opportunity.
And it had finally found one.
Varesh’s expression became complicated.
The attack had been nearly perfect.
Nearly.
But only nearly.
The Void Arrow had missed its heart.
So this was the hidden card.
Varesh looked back toward Aksai.
Aksai didn’t say anything.
He simply stood there, covered in blood, while his Natal Sword returned to his hand.
Varesh’s eyes gradually became colder. The mocking smile that had been on his face earlier was gone.
"You..."
This time, Varesh’s voice was quieter.
"You bastard.... You almost killed me."
For several breaths, the battlefield remained completely silent.
Then—
"Hahaha..."
A low laugh escaped Varesh’s throat. It was not a laugh of amusement but one born from anger.
As he recalled how close to being fallen on this island he had come to be again and again, his laughter grew louder.
The wound on his chest was still bleeding, soaking his black robe in crimson. Yet Varesh seemed to have completely forgotten about it.
His eyes were fixed on Aksai. The curiosity and nonchalance had disappeared from them. Only killing intent remained.
"Now..."
His smile slowly widened.
"Now you won’t get an easy death."
VMMMM!
The black Natal Sword beside him suddenly trembled.
An overwhelming Sword Intent erupted from the blade.
The fog around Varesh was instantly pushed away.
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
Even the weakened isolation layer trembled under the pressure.
"You know... you have forfeited your right to have a peaceful passing."
The moment those words left his mouth—
BOOM!
The Sword Intent erupted even further.
The black Natal Sword released a furious Sword Cry.
SHING—!
Its sound reverberated throughout the entire isolation layer.
Varesh had become genuinely angry.
The assassination attempt had struck at something deeper than his body. He had felt fear. And because of it, he had felt inferior to Aksai, even if only for a brief moment.
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