The previous attack by the tentacles had left He Ao with wounds both on his front and back, and just then, Cowen's sword had connected these two injuries.
Blood continuously dripped down from the torn black robe, but He Ao's gaze was still fixed on Cowen before him.
"Truly tenacious."
Cowen watched the youth before him and suddenly lifted his knife, sweeping it towards He Ao.
He Ao also stepped forward, swinging the broken sword in his hand, deflecting the golden long knife to the side.
The broken tip of the sword had been snapped off about one third of the way down from the sword's blade, leaving He Ao with just two-thirds of its length to work with. However, because the Strengthening Magic Array was incomplete, the sword's integrity was far from what it had been.
After this simple clash, new cracks began to spread along the broken sword.
He Ao changed his sword style, thrusting forward, stabbing at Cowen.