Right then, when they saw their high-tier martial arts with their terrifying might, they felt that the rumors around them were not fake!
But they did not expect that such a powerful duo would be defeated by the nameless blue-robed young man in just one hit. The duo even struggled for breath while standing at death's door.
When Yan Mountain Tiger remembered that his group had recklessly thought about attacking the blue-robed young man and had even spread the word about his location, Yan Mountain Tiger and his group shuddered while a chill crept down their spines. They did not dare linger in the area any longer and swiftly went down the mountain.
When Yan Mountain Tiger and his five companions left, the Jiang brothers died because they lost too much blood. The purple-robed man and Happy were soon the only ones left in the forest.
The two pairs of eyes met in the air, and sparks flew above the brocade box!
"What's your name?"
"Happy."
The purple-robed man recited Happy's name in his heart once before he said, "My name is Shangguan Lian."
Happy said nothing. He only frowned and thought about it. He did not seem to remember such a person from his previous life, so he merely nodded.
It was not surprising that he did not know about the other.
In his previous life, while the one emperor, two empresses, three kings, seven dukes, and thirteen aces were famous, there were many powerful players hidden in the China server who kept a low profile. They did not like to show off, and their luck was not really good, which was why they never rose to fame.
However, based on Shangguan Lian's attacks, his Nocturnal Wolf Wind Demon Sword Technique had already reached the peak of the ninth realm. Just like Happy's Flowering Knights' Song, it was only a step away from reaching the tenth realm. In the current World of Martial Arts, he should be categorized among the top players.
If that were not the case, Happy would not have spent so much time and energy talking to him.
Shangguan Lian was still deeply concerned by his inability to tell what skill Happy used, so he could not help but ask about it. "Could you tell me what saber technique you used just now?"
"Flowering Knights' Song."
"It's late now. Let's fight."
Even though twenty or so Blessed Realm players had died, Happy did not want to be found by Heaven Descendants Sect and Vast Ocean Sword Sect. With the speed of his Cloud Treading Steps, it might be possible to shake off all the people in Mount Song, but it would not be easy.
He needed to finish the fight fast.
Perhaps Shangguan Lian had already noticed the burning fighting spirit in Happy, because his gaze focused. His arms fell to his sides, and a whip sword slipped into his grip from his sleeves. He had his qi circulate in his body, and with a buzz, his whip sword let out a sound that shook the air.
A sword whistle rang out in the forest!
At that moment, Shangguan Lian realized that Happy had actually closed his eyes. He raised his handsome face slightly, and there was a rather sentimental and nostalgic look on his face that made him look ancient.
A long time passed.
"It has been a long time since I heard such a clear and pleasant sword whistle."
Happy sighed deeply in his heart before he put on a smile.
"Let's do this."
Happy braced himself, and the smile on his face became even wider!
Everything seemed to have suddenly returned to the period of time two years ago, when he had just begun to understand the essence of various high-tier martial arts and went around challenging various famous players. His state of mind was incredibly similar to that time, which was why his fighting spirit burned so greatly.
The change in Happy's state of mind shocked the purple-robed man!
If Happy had given him an unfathomable, calm, and aloof feeling earlier that made him look like an ice mountain, then the current Happy was like a great ocean under the sun! He appeared very calm, but underneath that calm was endless power.
Shangguan Liang s.u.c.k.e.d in a deep breath to calm his mind. With a loud whoosh, the whip sword in his hand sliced through the air and drew a purplish-black sword shadow in the shape of an arc.
"Nocturnal Wolf Wind Demon Sword Technique, ninth realm! Please grant me your instructions!"
"Flowering Knights' Song, ninth realm!"
Happy smiled faintly, and he also stated the condition of the martial art he used.
After he spoke, the two of them disappeared from the spot at the same time.
The attack speed of Nocturnal Wolf Wind Demon Sword Technique was incredibly fast. It was easy to tell just how great it was by how the purple-robed man had instantly killed ten people. However, as a high-tier martial art that was also at the peak of the ninth realm, Flowering Knights' Song could be considered its equal.
Even though Flowering Knights' Song was slightly inferior to Nocturnal Wolf Wind Demon Sword Technique in terms of speed, its attacks were far more vicious!
A gust of sword wind went to cut Happy's face, while a saber glare went charging at Shangguan Lian!
This was the truest portrayal of two people fighting against each other.
Shangguan Lian had already developed the speed in Nocturnal Wolf Wind Demon Sword Technique to a certain level. He seized the initiative to attack while moving about. Usually, before the purplish-black sword glare vanished, a new one would be delivered. The purplish-black sword glares were as numerous as the spikes on a porcupine, and they were layered as they moved forward. His speed allowed Shangguan Lian to bring out the full potential of his sword technique's ferociousness, and soon, he suppressed Happy's moves.
"Very good!"
Even though he was suppressed by Shangguan Lian's Nocturnal Wolf Wind Demon Technique, Happy did not panic. Shangguan Lian's high-tier martial art placed an emphasis on attack, not defense, and Flowering Knights' Song had an equal balance in offensive and defensive techniques. If he chose to fight with offensive skills alone, Flowering Knights' Song would naturally not be able to win. In fact, all of Happy's attacks would get countered.
Hence, in his past life, when the game had been launched for a year, practically every single person would have practiced at least three high-tier martial arts that had different properties, and they would use them together.
Or else, if Flowering Knights' Song went up against Nocturnal Wolf Wind Demon Sword Technique while both were at the same realm, most of the time, Flowering Knights' Song would lose.
As of then, Happy had only learned one high-tier martial arts, which was Flowering Knights' Song, and unfortunately for him, he had to run into someone with Nocturnal Wolf Wind Demon Sword Technique. But… Shangguan Lian was even more unlucky.
If he had ran into someone else, he would have already gained the upper hand.
However, Happy had a great understanding of Nocturnal Wolf Wind Demon Sword Technique, and every time Shangguan Lian attacked, he would immediately retreat beforehand. Then, he would swing his saber forward without any flourish.
Every single time they clashed with brute force, Shangguan Lian would feel a sharp pain as if his finger was about to tear. Then, when he noticed that something was off, he immediately changed tactics and carefully avoided head on confrontation. He decided to fight while moving about, intending to use his speed to win the fight.
Unfortunately for him, Happy was not fooled. Like a tree whose roots were buried deep in the ground, he remained in one spot and only barely moved about to avoid the attacks. He swung his Hundred-battle Saber horizontally and vertically, defending himself with stable footsteps. While he parried the attacks, he made Shangguan Lian waste his qi, and without his knowledge, Shangguan Lian used up almost all of his qi.
As for Happy, he was still very energetic.
In the end, Shangguan Lian let out a long sigh, tapped the ground, and took the initiative to jump a few feet away. His gloomy voice then came from a distance.
"I give up! I can't win against you. T
he brocade box is yours!"
Chapter 136 - Bodhidharma Cave and the Eighteen Bronzemen
Since Shangguan Lian was a powerful player who had quite good fighting skills, his state of mind and personality were quite good. When he saw that he had no hope in snatching the brocade box, he did not continue bothering Happy. He left without any reservations.
Happy had a good feeling about him and a deep impression because of it.
If Shangguan Lian had been as much of a rascal as the sect master of Heaven Domination Sect and continued to bother him just because he had some abilities, he might truly pose a great threat to Happy.
Happy remembered his name and decisively sent him a friend request.
"Friendsh.i.p.s are forged in fire, why don't we be friends?"
"Hah! Alright! Friend, I wish you a safe journey!"
Shangguan Lian answered swiftly. He agreed to the request, and a messenger pigeon flapped its snow-white wings to appear in front of Happy. The simple words telling him that his request had gone through showed that Shangguan Lian was a free and unrestrained soul that was unique to wandering swordsmen.
Happy put away the letter and smiled slightly before he picked up the brocade box that was not far away from him. He checked the map, and the relaxed expression on his face vanished to reveal a slightly grave and bitter smile.
If a person gained something, they would also lose something. That was indeed true.
Once Master Xuan Kong left, Happy lost his safe haven.
It was an unexpected surprise that he was able to solve the exquisite Go game and receive the Ten True Dragon Styles. That reward was even better than the rewards he could gain from the brocade box, but he could not bear the thought of giving up on the brocade box which he had stalked for so long.
Besides, there were hundreds of thousands of martial artists from everywhere gathered in Mount Song. Once word got out, the never-ending mountain ranges would definitely be searched through thoroughly.
If he wanted to deceive the world and leave Mount Song, it would be very difficult.
"Ah, I've become greedy," Happy mocked himself.
And based on Happy's plans, he would be able to gain Shifting Stars, which was an ultimate martial art the Murong Clan would not teach to outsiders. Logically speaking, the fortuitous events he ran into in this life were much better, but he still could not give up on the unknown treasure contained within the small brocade box. He was indeed a little too greedy!
However, a human's curiosity was endless.
Also, during the storyline quest that led to banditry running rampant in the game in his past life, he missed the chance and did not show his abilities. Now that he had a chance to do everything over, he, too, had the ambition to prove himself and make a name for himself.
Furthermore, Shifting Stars was a technique that was more suited for group fights, because it was a technique that became strong if the enemy was strong. It was unlike Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palm[1], which was based on fierce and strong skills and equipped with brutal methods to kill right from the start.
Also, Happy only had one style available to him right then from Ten True Dragon Styles. It was not enough for him to sweep through the lands. Hence, he absolutely did not want to give up on the brocade box!
Where could he go to safely avoid the pursuers for the final half day with the brocade box?
Happy left his original spot in a flash while swiftly sweeping through the areas on the map, looking for a place which no one knew or could easily approach.
As a veteran who had stayed in Mount Song for years, Happy was very familiar with most of the quests in the area. He also knew many of the places.
Hence, he soon determined two rather suitable areas where he could hide.
The terrain there was out-of-the-way and difficult to access. It was even difficult for birds to get there, and it was abnormally bleak and arduous inside. It was rumored that the place was where Founder Bodhidharma isolated himself to train. The walls had the high-tier martial arts Bodhidharma Qi Cultivation Technique and Bodhidharma Sword Technique, which Founder Bodhidharma had created himself and personally carved on the walls.
Happy remembered that once Bodhidharma Cave was discovered, a commotion had stirred for a period of time, especially when the elders of Shaolin Temple personally proved the place's existence. Countless Shaolin Disciples had rushed to that place and nearly flipped over all of Bodhidharma Cave. Only later did they come to a realization that if they wanted to find Founder Bodhidharma's real murals, they would need to meet a set of harsh requirements.
Not only would they need to have 99 points in Comprehension, they would also need to be very well-versed in Buddhist scriptures and zen rituals. They also had to be kind and persistent. It was only when they fulfill all those requirements that they could transmit Buddha's voice and proceed to discover the peak of Bodhidharma's martial arts!
But Bodhidharma Cave was located at Punishment Mount!
There were many monks who broke their Buddhist vows locked up in there. They had committed crimes in the world of martial artists and dyed their hands in blood, but did not repent their actions. Those monks were not just vicious, but their martial arts were great, and most of them were powerful people who had reached a certain level of skill.
The monks who had broken their Buddhist vows were separated from Bodhidharma Cave by Iron Chain Bridge, but they were all nearby. The bridge was right next to the cave in hopes that Founder Bodhidharma's Buddha's Cave would be able to enlighten the monks who broke their Buddhist vows so they would put down their weapons, repent on their own, and walk down the path of Buddha.
Since the monks who broke their Buddhist vows were all above Mystical Realm on average and since Iron Chain Bridge was easy to defend but hard to attack, Happy naturally considered it as a sanctuary.
The other place was the Eighteen Bronzemen Matrix that stood alone behind Shaolin Temple.
It was the most famous quest in Shaolin Temple when it came to providing the quest clearers with rewards. Of course, the difficulty was incredibly high. As the level of the matrix increased, the rewards would also become better.
This was because with every two bronzemen they cleared, the bronzemen's qi realm would increase by a realm, and in relation to that, their combat abilities would also increase by leaps and bounds, perhaps even by several fold. Hence, with every two bronzemen anyone cleared, the difficulty of the matrix would increase, making the bronzemen harder to deal with.
Once they reached the eleventh bronzeman, the bronzemen's qi realm would reach the legendary Inaction Realm. It came after Moksha Realm, and the people in this realm would have no d.e.s.i.r.es. They could execute their skills easily and bring about miracles by turning something bad into something beautiful.
At the same time, their bodies would become as hard as steel. Even if those in Moksha Realm had high-tier martial arts printed on their bodies, their attacks would feel like blows from a fly on those in Inactive Realm. Those in Moksha Realm would not be able to affect them in the slightest.
The Bronzemen Matrix was a matrix was open for all Shaolin Disciples, and it was a quest that provided them with rewards.
But when outsiders entered, it was a defensive mechanism!
It was the same procedure, but when a Shaolin Disciple tried to clear the matrix, they would gain a reward if they won, while if they lost, they would only be sent out with a lot of whacks on their bodies.
But if an outsider lost in the matrix, the eighteen bronzemen would not show any pity and would kill the outsider without hesitation. This feature intimidated and provoked many of the martial artists to challenge Shaolin Temple's Bronzemen Matrix.
When Happy thought it over, he gave up on the idea to enter the Bronzemen Matrix behind Shaolin Temple. He changed his direction and headed to the most dangerous cliff in Mount Song—Punishment Mount!
*****
Li Heng, the vice sect master of Heaven Descendants Sect, led around ten people to t
he empty ground like a flash of lightning. From a distance, he already noticed corpses of Blessed Realm players scattered all over the ground!
When he saw that there were around ten players who had fallen in the shape of a circle, he furrowed his eyebrows, but there was no surprise on his face.
Since he allowed those players to get ahead of him, he naturally had a plan to find the person who seized the brocade box.
Rustle!
A show-white messenger pigeon appeared on Li Heng's shoulder. He said nothing and took it down to unfold the letter and read it. Then, he looked in the direction in which Happy had disappeared.
"After him!"
With the order, his people ran into the forest.
Chapter 137 - Burial Ground
As of then, there might be no one who knew of Punishment Mount's existence in Shaolin Temple. Even if someone occasionally went near the bumpy and jagged roads on that dangerous mountain, they would find their way obstructed by thorns, bushes, venomous snakes, and wild beasts.
Even if a player who was in Blessed Realm managed to clear the obstructions, they would find a bridge that spanned over three hundred and thirty feet. It connected the space between two dangerous summits that were six thousand and five hundred and sixty feet above ground. Every single time a strong gust of wind blew, the crude Iron Chain Bridge would sway violently and let out a sound that made hearts tremble. No matter how courageous a person was, they would not dare to cross the bridge easily.
Besides that, there were many monks who had broken their Buddhist vows wandering near the Iron Chain Bridge. They were NPCs in Mystical Realm who had practiced martial arts of Shaolin Temple for many years. Their foundations were great, and bandits who ran wild in the lands could not hope to compare to them.
It could be said that Punishment Cliff was a place that no one could traverse for the time being. It was a fearsome spot where they could gain no benefits!
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