Sword Among Us c1-1268

by Black Swordsman Online

  "Heh. You really came."

  There were not that many onlookers this time around Purple Bamboo Forest, but there were some who were still determined to enter the sect of the master of Purple Bamboo Forest. When they saw the young house servant from the Murong Clan, delight filled their faces.

  With their judgment, they were naturally unable to tell just what was the difference between the Happy on that day compared to the one before.

  "Go."

  The master of Purple Bamboo Forest gave a signal from the pavilion, and the sword servant walked out with his sword. He stood like a wall before Happy with faint traces of derision and mockery in his eyes.

  "I made a mistake by delivering the second strike last time. This time, I will not give you the same chance again."

  Once the sword servant found out that the boy before him was a spy sent by the Murong Clan to learn their foundations, he was no longer as cordial as before.

  "Please grant me your instruction!"

  The sword servant might be in a hurry to send him away, but Happy, too, was in a hurry to prove to him his hard work over the past few days. While the disparity between their strength was great, Happy believed that he had a certain degree of chance to withstand three of his attacks.

  The woman in the pavilion stopped playing her zither. With her eyes shining, she looked at them from the forest with an expression of interest.

  The players around the area felt that the situation was abnormally exciting. They quickly found their spots to stand around and stare at the fighters. After all, they had played World of Martial Arts for a long time, but they had never actually managed to see any NPC fight against a player.

  "Receive my Mad Demon Staff Technique!"

  When the sword servant shouted those words, he did not use the longsword in his hands. Instead, with an abnormal degree of flashiness, he attacked with a hand aimed at the boy's c.h.e.s.t.

  Even though he knew that the boy came from the Murong Clan and had definitely received instructions from a powerful martial artist, he refused to believe that a boy who had just recently began to learn martial arts could learn anything useful within a few days.

  The momentum of his first attack might have been fierce, but he held back a little. He did not use his full strength.

  Even though his strength had been seen through, Happy still did not show any emotion!

  The moment the sword servant's attack reached its peak, Happy moved to the side and narrowly avoided the strike. By doing so, he managed to avoid the sword servant's first attack.

  His actions were performed in a calm and collected fashion. They were swift, simple, and had even a hint of indifference to them. In the meantime, the sword servant who had been careless and missed his attack looked ridiculous.

  "There are two more strikes."

  "You impudent brat!"

  After being mocked by the boy, the sword servant flew into a rage.

  Whoosh!

  The sword in his hand was thrown swiftly into the air; the sword servant had let go of his sword! He formed his hands into the shape of claws and moved as if he was flying. In an instant, he closed in on Happy, giving him no time to dodge.

  But Happy did not plan to dodge anyway!

  He simply allowed himself to be grabbed by his shoulders. Then, at the instant the sword servant was taken aback by his action, he exerted force and executed a Python Flip. He twisted his shoulder, caught the sword servant off guard, released the strength he had in his shoulder, tapped the sword servant on the c.h.e.s.t, and used his full strength to send the man flying several feet away from him.

  The boy and sword landed on the ground at the same time!

  "There's still the last atta—"

  "Very good!"

  Before Happy could finish speaking, the sword servant suddenly spoke loudly. He was not angry, but rather amused.

  "A well executed Python Flip. You are truly an intelligent boy! Very well, I accept my defeat!"

  At that moment, he fully understood Happy's strategy.

  Happy used the sword servant's derision against him in the first attack and moved lightly to avoid the attack. By doing so, he would be considered to have withstood the attack, and he also hid the fact that he practiced Shaolin's Long Fist. Then, during the critical moment, he used a Python Flip to escape his clutches and withstood the second attack!

  Because of it, regardless of whether he managed to withstand the third attack, Happy would be considered to have made it through all the attacks. The Murong Clan had already won its gamble.

  It was, of course, not pleasant to lose to a child, but it was worthy of a drink to be toyed around by an intelligent boy with great comprehension! The sword servant was not a petty person nor someone who broke his promises. He went into the forest and brought out a long, dark-purple bamboo which he handed to Happy. He also gave him a book.

  "Brat, by the looks of it, you have only started learning martial arts. If you find yourself unable to continue staying in the Murong Clan, come and search for my master. I will give you this qi cultivation book. While Complete Reality Qi Cultivation Technique is a traditional technique from a legit school, it is still a normal, low-tier qi cultivation technique. With your comprehension, practicing that qi cultivation technique is a disgrace to you… I will give you this book. When you are free, practice it."

  Happy quickly glanced at the words on the book, and his heart trembled. He s.u.c.k.e.d in a few deep breaths before expressing his gratitude.

  "Noble sir, thank you for your gift! Please tell me your names."

  A normal sword servant had actually generously gifted Happy Seven Stars Sword, the high-tier martial art from Complete Reality School. It not only had high-level incantations for qi cultivation techniques, but also contained forty-nine ingenious sword skills. While it could not be considered a peerless martial art, a player could still move into the ranks of the powerful with this sword manual alone.

  Such a gift was very good!

  "There is no need for you to ask for our names. I will give you this plate. If you decide to leave the Murong Clan, you can head to Sword of Heavenly Lake Faction. They will treat you politely."

  Once he finished speaking, the sword servant turned around and left.

  Happy might still have had some questions unanswered, but he knew that even if he continued lingering around the area, he would not be able to learn anything. He could only return to the Murong Clan with surprise, delight, and concern while carrying the manual and the purple bamboo.

  "A sword servant… from Sword of Heavenly Lake Faction?"

  The Murong Clan Lady had been waiting for him in the backyard for a long time. When she saw the plate Happy handed to her, she pondered over it for a moment before swiftly returning the plate to him.

  "It's a rather famous sect, alright. They are also quite generous with their gifts, hmm? Seven Stars Sword, eh? Bah! Do they think that the Murong Clan doesn't have any high-tier martial arts? How dare they try to poach Murong Clan disciples in Gusu City's territory… Happy!"

  Happy did not say anything to interrupt the Murong Clan Lady since the start of her rant, but he was already dancing in joy in his heart. He actually longed for the Murong Clan Lady to be so agitated that she would just teach him Shifting Stars.

  "From now on, you are Murong Clan's inner sect disciple. Hmph! There is no need for you to continue practicing Complete Reality Qi Cultivation Technique. Didn't he give you Seven Stars Sword?

  "It's quite well-timed, because I will give you another book. It will teach you the Murong Clan's Swimming Dragon. Once you learn and understand the martial arts from the other sects to a certain degree, report to the master of the clan. He will teach you Shifting Stars."

  "My Lady, thank you for teaching me!"

  Chapter 8 - Qi Realm

  The requirements for Seven Stars Sword were as follows:

  AST: 37, AFF: 41, CPH: 60, BMM: 47 and the required qi realm was Mystical Realm!

  Player: Ha
ppy

  AST: 24, AFF: 18, CPH: 25, BMM: 20.

  ...

  Arm Strength represented strength and vitality. It slowly increased as time passed, and when the player worked hard to improve their martial arts.

  Body Movement represented speed and dexterity. It also slowly increased as time passed, and when the player's lightness skill improved.

  But it was different for Affinity. It represented defense and the player's foundation. Usually, it could only increase when the player's qi cultivation technique reached profound levels or they practiced martial arts focusing on strengthening the physical body. This also showed the difficulty in transitioning from practicing low-tier martial arts to high-tier martial arts.

  As for Comprehension, it represented a person's ability to understand martial arts.

  It would usually increase when a player reached a breakthrough and entered a higher realm.

  Regardless of whether it were novice level martial arts such as Shaolin's Long Fist, qi cultivation techniques, lightness skills, or hidden weapon techniques, as long as the skills reached the ninth realm, which was an advanced realm, the player's Comprehension would also increase a little. The more profound a martial art was, the more the player's Comprehension would increase.

  This meant that if a player wanted to move from learning low-tier martial arts to high-tier martial arts, they would need to practice many skills from different sects. They would also have to gain a certain degree of success with those skills before they could increase their Comprehension and become a truly powerful martial artist.

  Of course, there was a shortcut to increase Comprehension.

  All players could go to private schools and listen to lectures or buy books. Both could train the mind and increase Comprehension. However, the fees for private schools were very expensive, and up to this moment, it was difficult for the newbies in World of Martial Arts to earn money. There was probably no person who could spend the huge sum of money required to attend a private school.

  There was a difference of dozens of points between Happy's four basic statuses compared to the requirements for Seven Stars Sword. Hence, while this high-tier martial art was something countless players coveted, the feeling of being in possession of it but being unable to use it was also not good. Happy could only put the book in a bank and continue practicing Shaolin's Long Fist.

  Speaking of qi realms, this was something that all wuxia novels would mention. However, World of Martial Arts had created an even more detailed and distinct system.

  Qi realms were divided as such: The most basic of all was Gate Realm, which was the gate to enter the path leading to life and death. Those who reached this realm would officially receive the right to venture into the world.

  Then came Blessed Realm, which meant that the player had arrived at the threshold of qi. Once they received the blessings from heaven, they could become great martial artists in the world of martial artists.

  Next was Mystical Realm, which meant that the player had officially become proficient in qi. It would have reached mystical levels, which would allow the player to learn high-tier martial arts.

  Life and Death Realm was next, and it was the realm in which the players would know whether they would live or die before they engaged their opponent. The people who reached this realm were all first-class martial artists who knew many high-tier martial arts.

  After Life and Death Realm, the player would transcend life and death and reach Moksha Realm [1]!

  It was said that there were more than ten other qi realms after Moksha Realm.

  *****

  Happy practiced the qi cultivation technique every day, but once it reached the later levels, the effects of training became very small!

  However, every single time his qi increased by a level, his strength would also become better exponentially. The change would be very great!

  Happy remembered that the person with the highest qi realm was Leisurely Duke from the seven dukes before he had returned to the past, and that was three years after World of Martial Arts was launched.

  It was rumored that Leisurely Duke received the ultimate martial art from Leisurely Sect—Northern Obscure Divine Skill. His qi realm had then instantly gone from the fourth Life and Death Realm to the fifth Moksha Realm, and he could fight against the one emperor, who was the most powerful player in the world, and not lose.

  The requirements to learn Shifting Stars was the fourth Realm—Life and Death Realm. Due to the uniqueness of the skill, Happy had to be very familiar with the essence of many martial arts before he could understand the profound meaning behind "I will deal with you the same way you deal with me." With such a motto, it was unavoidable that it would have strict requirements to learn it.

  It was precisely because Happy had seen through this that he had decided to stay in the Murong Clan, and he had not hesitated even for a moment. He even began to practice multiple martial artists from multiple sects diligently.

  However, it was not easy to learn multiple martial arts well.

  The Murong Clan would also not blindly give any player a skill and have them practice it just like that.

  All the disciples in the clan had to work hard to fight for the right to learn each of the martial arts!

  Happy had obtained Complete Reality Qi Cultivation Technique because he fed the pets attentively. Such an action received the Murong Clan Lady's favor, and that was why she made the decision to teach him in private. As for Shaolin's Long Fist, he received it because he needed it for the quest in Purple Bamboo Forest.

  It might have been unexpected, but this was the true essence of World of Martial Arts!

  "Miracles happen at random, and they can appear at any time."

  It was only a pity that Happy could not practice the sword skills…

  This was just like receiving an extremely valuable luminous pearl, but not being able to explain its origin. Because of that, anyone would be worried about inviting disaster to their home and would not bring out the pearl to use it.

  At the end of the day, all the players had to work hard to receive their martial art manuals. Right then, Happy had already been officially taken in as Murong Clan's disciple, and he knew that from this moment onward, he had finally finished the quest to join the sect as its disciple! He could now go to the butler or the Murong Clan Lady to ask for clan quests, and through completing different quests, he could receive even more manuals from the Murong Clan's library.

  But he did not immediately go to get a quest. Instead, he used the forty taels of silver crumbs he had gained from selling wolf pelts to buy eight units of Jingchuang Ointment, which could restore his HP. Then, he returned to the outskirts to the west of the city.

  When he was miles away from the city, the world turned dark.

  The area below Cold Mountain Temple became even more mysterious under the illumination of the moon. There was no one on the road, and wolf howls could be heard rising and falling in the forest in the distance. It was ghastly and terrifying, making the area beyond the city even more frightening!

  At that moment, very few people knew that all of the wolves' abilities would increase slightly when night fell or that they would turn into Ferocious Wild Wolves. Even players in Gate Realm might not have a chance to win against them at night and in the forest since their sight and senses would be reduced.

  Fortunately, night did not last long. In the virtual world where time was calculated at a 2:1 ratio compared to the time in the world outside, night would only last for around four hours. Most players chose to meditate and practice their qi cultivation techniques during that time or look for a corner to test their skills with other players while they waited for daylight.

  This method was denounced by countless powerful martial artists one month later, because night time provided an even better chance to train.

  At night, all sorts of monsters would appear, and there would be even more chances to improve. For example, once the wild wolves turned into Ferocious Wild Wo
lves, their abilities increased, and the value of their pelts as well as the quality of their flesh also increased. They would also gather in packs, and if the player was fortunate, they could even find a wolf's den or the King of Wolves.

  Translator's Note:

  [1] Moksha Realm: Moksha is the Hindu term for the liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. The Liberation from the Cycle of Death and Rebirth Realm is WAY too long, so have Moksha Realm instead.

  Chapter 9 - South China Martial Arts Ranking Board

  "Happy."

  Right when he logged out of the game and before he could even climb out of his bed, Happy saw a dark face in front of him. There were black bags under the person's eyes, making him look like Kayako from the Grudge. Chen Fan impatiently dragged a certain person who was still badly shaken by that sight in front of his computer.

  "Hurry up. Enter this website and register your name. You're the only one left."

  "For what?"

  Happy yawned because he was not interested in becoming a member of anything at all. He rubbed his eyes. "I'm not interested in collecting those videos from Japan, and stop talking about Sora Aoi or Maria Ozawa—Ack!" Before he could finish speaking, he was hit hard in the head, and his mind became much clearer. His gaze landed on the bright screen.

  "South China Martial Arts Ranking Board?"

  Memories from his previous life rose in his mind, and Happy came to a realization. 'Oh, it's THIS one.'

  After World of Martial Arts was launched, the University of South China followed the trend of playing the game, and after a month, the game became popular among the students. The Three Lonely Wolves were the most radical of the bunch, and once they realized the powerful effects of World of Martial Arts, they used a few nights to create a website for the students of the University of South China to talk about the game.

  The homepage published the names and information of a few influential people, and it showed a few skills from World of Martial Arts. There were even walkthroughs for some quests, which made the website very useful and eye-catching!