Sword Among Us c1-1268
Page 171
However, Lu Mingyue's Sunflower Soft Palm Strike did not have the effect he d.e.s.i.r.ed either.
Silver Wolf's wariness and observation prowess were very astonishing. At the moment Lu Mingyue delivered his Soft Palm Strike, Silver Wolf's robes fluttered, and he avoided it without a word.
During their second exchange, both sides showed that they were equals in strength!
But in general, Lu Mingyue was still at a slight disadvantage, because he lost his Sunflower Body Fortification. He had to rely on executing his Sunflower Aura at full force and his Needle Tide to shift positions madly to avoid Silver Wolf's boomerangs.
While he moved about, flying needles shot out from his hands nonstop as he tried to regain his dignity.
But Silver Wolf had two weapons, and he used them in an incredibly ingenious manner! Besides, as time passed, he gradually got used to the effects of Sunflower Aura. There were a few times when he utilized the threads tugging at his body to nearly drag Lu Mingyue's body back to the trajectory of the boomerangs when they returned to him, terrifying Lu Mingyue so much that he snapped the threads without a second thought.
The onlookers gradually grew impatient!
The two men simply refused to get close to each other!
One of them continuously moved around in an irregular circle and looked like a phantom while he shifted about. The other, in the meantime, was searching for his opponent's weaknesses and schemed against him.
All of that was somewhat useful to players who were at Evil Wolf's level. They could tell the dangers that lurked in the duel, but normal players could simply not understand it.
Suddenly…
Thud!
Silver Wolf's patience seemed to run out because of Sunflower Aura and Lu Mingyue's perfect Needle Tide. Under everyone's astonished gazes, he knelt on one knee and resolutely stabbed his parting hook into the ground.
Countless gazes instantly focused on him again.
'What is he thinking?!'
Silver Wolf used his actions to explain his intentions.
He spread out his fingers before he closed them together. Then, eight exquisite and small boomerangs appeared between his fingers.
Lu Mingyue grew tense when he saw that. He said nothing, but around a dozen flying needles shot out and intertwined with each other.
'Go!'
Silver Wolf's expression did not change, but eight boomerangs rushed out at the same time.
When the flying needles approached him, he grabbed his parting hooks again, and multiple shadows were formed in front of him as he swung them.
Cling, cling, clang, clang!
Clear sounds were heard, and all the flying needles were blocked.
At the same time, the boomerangs shot past Lu Mingyue before they quickly returned.
Ting!
Silver Wolf swung both of his parting hooks, and the hooks at the top hooked the center of the boomerangs. As if there was some form of strange magic in them, the boomerangs spun obediently before they flew out at lightning speed once more. They were even faster than before.
Two!
Four!
Six!
As countless people marveled at it, Silver Wolf's parting hooks turned into tools with unique abilities. With a tap and a swing, they would send the boomerangs which had returned to them outwards at an unbelievable speed. Each one was faster than the last, and all the boomerangs went charging at Lu Mingyue.
Shick, shick!
The sound of the boomerangs cutting through the air could be heard nonstop.
Lu Mingyue panicked.
His senses kept screaming at him that there was danger approaching him when he was targeted by the boomerangs, and while he moved around madly to switch his positions, he kept cutting off the threads to his flying needles. He was forced to replenish his stock of flying needles and guide them at an even faster speed.
In the crowd's eyes, he turned into a will-o'-the-wisp that moved back and forth while surrounded by boomerangs. He was forced to change his positions repeatedly.
Red pieces of cloth from his robe landed on the ground nonstop.
The heavy red robe had been torn in multiple places while he moved around, and the strength of his Sunflower Aura gradually became weaker.
Lu Mingyue had activated his Sunflower Aura in a frenzy and pushed his Needle Time to the limit, which caused his qi to be drained at a fast speed. He did not have time to use medicinal pills, however. Because of that, his qi was about to be drained to the last drop.
But Silver Wolf was not in any better condition.
Even though his ultimate technique with boomerangs was something he created on his own, using it repeatedly and pushing his judgment to the limits continuously drained his qi and his mental energy. After Lu Mingyue dodged his attacks for so long, even Silver Wolf felt himself on the border of being mentally and physically exhausted.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
At the moment Silver Wolf left the battlefield, Lu Mingyue also stopped using his Needle Tide and Sunflower Aura. He landed among the people from the three great sects with a pale face. His red robe was torn and tattered, and he looked very pathetic.
"Sunflower Manual does live up to its name." Silver Wolf smiled bitterly, but he remained composed.
Even though Lu Mingyue was still shocked and terrified, he thought of drawing Silver Wolf to his side. Once he changed his torn red robe, he said earnestly, "You're the first person to ever be able to force me to this point! Silver Wolf, as long as you're willing to join Cold Moon Palace, I will give you the money you want."
Silver Wolf frowned and cast Lu Mingyue a glance before he uttered a few words, "Three days, five million."
Lu Mingyue had an awkward look on his face.
"That time is too tight."
"That's why I was in a hurry to challenge you lot. I was hoping to use your fame to be able to bring a good number of views, but unfortunately, I couldn't win against you."
The regretful expression was seen clearly on the portion of his face that was not covered by the silver mask.
Class One Hall and Towering Palace did not say anything.
Even though they wanted to draw him to their side as well, five million… was not something that they could decide.
"If you insist on making a battle replay, there's one person you can try fighting." Lu Mingyue's expression changed, and he said to Silver Wolf, "Take this road and head to Baokang. Happy, the top player on the Famous People Rank, is there. He's even more famous than I am, and if you manage to win against him…"
"Are you serious?! He's in Baokang?"
Silver Wolf naturally knew of Happy's fame and prestige. Hope and raging fighting spirit instantly burned in his eyes.
Lu Mingyue smiled. "Of course."
Chapter 334 - Build the Sect
In Baokang County Town, even if the three great sects had completely got out of the stage to compete for Shennongjia's resources, the three local sects still did not get rid of their spectacular alliance!
Aside from clearing away some of the foreign sects and local sects who tried to strike when they were down, they announced that they had formed an alliance with Happy in Baokang Town in a very grand manner. They declared that in the future, there would be an alliance of four local sects in Baokang, and they would work together to act against all enemies who dared intrude upon their benefits and dignity.
The outsiders burst into an uproar, and all sorts of discussions rose.
"Four sects? Happy doesn't seem to have joined any sect."
"Are you outdated? Thunderous Battle has already built a sect in Baokang, and he brought people to join a feast in Shennong Restaurant. Absolute Nonsense was the host, and he booked the ground floor and the first floor. They did all this to form the alliance between the four sects. Whew, I heard that there were a lot of people who went there."
"Thunderous Battle is building a sect? Here?"
"I wonder if we have a chance to join."
Countless playe
rs gathered outside Shennong Restaurant because they were influenced by the rumors in the streets.
People came and went from the restaurant, which created a very lively scene. The entrance was guarded by the members of the three local sects, and no person unconcerned with the feast could get in easily. Only the members of the three local sects, Beautiful Robes Faction, and those with a clear "Mu" emblem on their c.h.e.s.ts could enter freely.
Even though the three sects had managed to defeat the three great sects and were full of high spirits, when they saw the players with the "Mu" emblem sewn on their c.h.e.s.ts, they still could not help but send them polite and admiring gazes.
As of then , there was only one person who could get the acknowledgement and respect from Jade Fox Palace, Righteous Sect, and Blood River Sect so easily. For the first time ever, he managed to get the highest standard of respect, which was being invited to the feast by three masters at the same time, and he made the great promise of having the sect members of Mu Clan share the resources points of the three local sects right before the three masters. From this alone, it was clear just how great was the status of the Mu Clan which had been just built on the west side of the town!
At that moment, a group of Wudang Sect members with extraordinary presences came to unite with them.
They cast a glance at the grand display outside the door and the three elites from the three local sects who stood guard at the entrance. Ouyang Qing did not slow down. He led his junior brothers and sisters, wrapped his fist in his palm, and walked over with a face full of smiles.
"I, Wudang Sect's Ouyang Qing, have been invited by Thunderous Battle for the feast."
The sect members from the three sects had long since noticed that group of Wudang Sect members who had great temperaments. They seemed to be even better than the group of Wudang Sect members in Righteous Sect. When they heard their words, they did not dare to be negligent.
"Clan Master Thunder is on the first floor, please enter!"
The members of the three local sects wrapped their fists in their palms at the same time to return the greeting and gave off a grand air.
The people behind Ouyang Qing were all affected. Before they entered the door, they wrapped their fists in their palms, and the air of martial artists was incredibly strong about them.
Soon, a group of tall and built Shaolin Temple disciples with bright eyes walked out from the crowd. There were thirteen of them, and all of them were dressed in the monk robes of Shaolin Temple warrior monks. They held Silver-spiked Staffs that attracted everyone's attention when they arrived in front of the entrance.
The eyes of the disciples from the three local sects brightened, and a few people went up to invite them in.
"Might you be the thirteen masters of Shaolin Temple, who have been invited by Clan Master Thunder to join the feast?"
"It is I, Strength Star. These are my junior brothers," Strength Star, who led the group, announced his Buddhist name, and a hint of a smile appeared on his face.
"Clan Master Thunder has been waiting for a long time, please enter!"
The thirteen staff-using monks saluted them back with one hand.
"Thank you!"
The monks walked calmly into Shennong Restaurant while the onlookers discussed it heatedly.
At that moment, there were plenty of people of the three sects who could not remain calm.
Even though the thirteen staff-using monks' fame had dwindled a lot by then, they were still people who were famous in Shaolin Temple. They were so strong that they were not inferior to top-class players. Their Demon Subduing Staff was said to allow them to not be at a disadvantage even if they had to face enemies who were multiple times their number.
There were also dozens of Wudang Sect members who arrived before the monks. They, too, seemed to be at Mystical Realm. Their equipment and temperaments were extraordinary, and the members of the three local sects believed that their abilities were not that much weaker either.
"And here we were, saying that there are few members in Mu Clan. Look. Elites from a few great system allocated sects arrived in one go. First were the disciples from Emei Sect who came here to congratulate Mu Clan and celebrate with them, then Chivalry Sect came over. They also managed to draw in elites from Wudang Sect and Shaolin Temple. By the looks of it, we can expect Mu Clan to become great very soon."
"Yeah…"
*****
Ouyang Qing and the thirteen staff-using monks sat down once the female members of the three local sects ushered them to their seats. They greeted each other, and the atmosphere became very lively.
"Happy, Thunderous Battle, you're really the worst. How could you not have told us beforehand about something so major and asked us to join? At any rate, we're all registered as Mu Clan's members already, you know?"
"Brother Ouyang is right."
Strength Star joined the conversation and agreed after sweeping his gaze over Happy and Thunderous Battle.
They were originally slightly uneasy, but when they saw the duo sitting together and heard the rumors in the town, they calmed down.
"Heh, you'll have to blame Thunderous Battle for that. He didn't handle things well, so I was arranged to be the sole actor on the stage to clean up his mess."
While Happy spoke, he was tugged by the eldest senior sister from Emei Sect, who sat beside him. "Happy, Mu Clan is actually based off Murong Clan, right?" the beautiful mistress, Yue Hua, asked with a face full of curiosity. "But you made Thunderous Battle the clan master while you refuse to join the sect. What's the meaning behind it?"
"I'm not leadership material, so it's only obvious that I'll just be a lackey and play second fiddle," Happy answered with a smile. He was surprised by Yue Hua actually coming to congratulate them.
"You definitely have some kind of scheme." Yue Hua looked at Happy askance. "If you don't, why don't you join Moon Reflection Temple? You can be Moon Reflection Temple's Dharma Protector! I heard that you still don't have a girlfriend, and we have plenty of single ladies at our side. This sort of treatment is something many great players in the game can only dream of!" Her tone when she said the last sentence had changed.
Happy smiled wanly and looked at the leaders around him at the table. There were around a dozen of them. "Hey, Great Beauty Yue, if you tempt me with beauty so loudly before these sect leaders, aren't you just going to show that I'm not loyal? Even if I do like any of you, I won't dare to join your sect for my own reputation, you know?"
The group of men immediately roared with laughter.
Yue Hua glared at Happy, then ignored him.
During the feast, Ouyang Qing and Strength Star stated one after another that there were quite a number of disciples from Wudang Sect and Shaolin Temple who showed interest in joining Mu Clan, but they did not know the recruitment requirements for Mu Clan, so they asked the two of them to come over to take a look and ask them about it face to face.
"We won't need too many people." Thunderous Battle did not say anything, but Happy was the one who offered the explanation. "The strength of a sect doesn't rely on the number of members. I believe you know about this as well. The current strongest player sect, Class One Hall, has very strict control over its members' strength. Even though they have fewer than five thousand members, each of them has very good individual strength. One branch has a number of elites that is twice what a normal large sect would possess, and their combat strength is very astonishing!"
The masters of the three local sects nodded. It was something that they had experienced personally. Right then, they could tell from Happy's tone that he seemed to have some ambition as well. Immediately, they looked forward to hearing the requirements of Mu Clan's member recruitment.
Chapter 335 - Occupation
The three masters of the three great local sects along with some of the masters of middle and small local sects were all in Shennong Restaurant. As long as they had a certain degree of influence, they were invited, and they were all present.
Happy cast a glance at Thunderous Battle under the countless gazes, and then said, "We're just a normal, small clan. Our conditions are far more inferior compared to those of professional guilds, so, naturally, we can't set our requirements too high."
The group of leaders nodded quietly and continued to stare at him.
Practically every single player who had reached Mystical Realm in Baokang had been taken in by various sects. There were only a few who had joined no side. They either had some reason behind why they refused to join any sect, or they had just reached Mystical Realm.
If Mu Clan set the recruitment requirement to be above Mystical Realm, there would be few who met it, and Mu Clan could only dream about developing within a short time.
Right then, many people already knew that the three great local sects were prepared to share their valuable metal mines and crystal mines with Mu Clan. After all, those places had not been developed much as of right then. They could use it to make Happy station himself in Baokang and protect them.
Hence, many people were attracted to Mu Clan, regardless of whether it was for Happy's fame, Shennongjia's rich and valuable, top-grade resources, or the great treatment provided by the three top local sects.
If they set the requirement at a reasonable level, Mu Clan would soon jump into the ranks of large sects and truly become one of the four great local sects in Baokang.
"I personally believe that as time passes, anyone will be able to catch up in terms of qi realm. The difference in qi realm cannot prove much. As long as the person is eager for progress and wants to be outstanding, Mu Clan will be willing to provide them with the best environment for training and resources. Hence, as long as they have reached Blessed Realm and have a high-tier martial art, Mu Clan will welcome them."