Absolute Death Game

After all the plans were set and lunch had been eaten, Xiao Buli headed to the Longquan Sword Pavilion in the afternoon.

Located on a hillside outside Nine Dragons City, the Longquan Sword Pavilion was surrounded by some thatched cottages nestled amongst bamboo forests, creating a rather elegant scene.

Opposite the Longquan Sword Pavilion was the Si Hai Martial Arts Hall, where one could learn fighting and Qigong skills suitable for Martial Monks, Fighters, and Qigong Masters. According to Wu Tao's introduction, it was the place for them to learn skills.

Xiao Buli walked directly into the Sword Pavilion, where many were practicing martial arts and swordplay, furiously hacking at training dummies. This method could also improve skill proficiency, though not as quickly as leveling up skills through battle experience from monster slaying.

Most of these were NPCs, but surprisingly, there was also a player among them, who did not seem to be a member of the Qilin Hall guild.

He Suoju (Wanderer of the Four Seas).

This "Wanderer of the Four Seas" must be a title, one that, based on the literal meaning of the title, was probably earned through exploration. It seemed that He Suoju had been to many places.

Xiao Buli hesitated for a moment but then decided to strike up a conversation with the other party.

"Hello," he approached and typed.

The person did not react.

"Are you a professional player too?" Xiao Buli asked again, activating his "Member of Qilin Hall Guild" title at the same time.

Finally, He Suoju stopped his activity, "I came to Nine Dragons City to learn skills, and along the way, I didn't kill a single monster or take on a single quest. You guys from Qilin Hall better not break the rules."

The other's tone was somewhat tense. Xiao Buli analyzed a bit and immediately gleaned several clues from his words. It was quite clear that Nine Dragons City fell under Qilin Hall's sphere of influence and was recognized as such by many.

From what He Suoju had said, it was apparent that members of different guilds could go to each other's territories to learn skills or trade goods, but they couldn't take quests or slay monsters. That must be one of the ways power was divided.

"I mean no harm, just asking casually, can you tell me which guild you're from?"

"Oh, no harm done, then it's fine. As for my guild, it's not convenient to tell you. If there's nothing else, I am going to continue practicing my swordplay," He Suoju spoke guardedly. Xiao Buli said no more; after all, he had already gotten the information he wanted.

It was evident that there weren't just the Qilin Hall guild in this game; it appeared each guild had their own territory. He wondered what other places were like but did not pursue further, afraid of provoking He Suoju and also wary of revealing too much about himself.

While mulling over these thoughts, he approached the Skills Trainer and inquired about the Swordsmanship he could learn. The trainer pointed to the wall where various sword techniques with their attribute requirements and training costs were displayed.

Seeing the list, Xiao Buli was momentarily speechless; it was practically daylight robbery. Even the cheapest Basic Swordsmanship cost thirty silver coins, ten times more expensive than what he paid in Dahuang Village. Indeed, the prices in big cities were something else.

As for other slightly more advanced sword techniques, they were naturally more expensive, with the pricier ones requiring one or two Gold Coins to learn. At the very top of the list, there was a skill with a price that was simply astonishing. Explore stories at empire

Proud Heaven Sword Skills: A highly profound sword technique created by the Proud Heaven Sword Deity, said to possess such immense power as to slay gods and demons. However, due to its steep learning requirements and talent prerequisites, hardly anyone was able to learn and comprehend this skill.

Learning requirements: One-handed Sword Mastery LV10, Agility 30, Speed 30, Strength 30.

Learning cost: 500 Gold Coins.

So awesome! Xiao Buli thought to himself about the high demands and expensive price of the skill, wondering who could possibly learn it. It was practically a display item.

Besides this technique, the others seemed relatively cheaper but were still quite costly, any one of which could empty Xiao Buli's pockets.

Seems like I need to ask the team leader for some money, he pondered while checking Zhang Yaoyang's location, which was empty at the moment. He had no idea where Zhang had gone.

Well, better to improve my Basic Attributes first. Those more powerful sword techniques had attribute requirements, and even with the money, there were hardly any he could learn.

With these thoughts, Xiao Buli left the Longquan Sword Pavilion.

As he walked down the hill, Xiao Buli was somewhat preoccupied. The continuous setbacks to his plan made him realize that he still had a long way to go; whether it was improving his Swordsmanship or Taoist Heart, both were difficult. It seemed that indeed, you get what you pay for, and good things are never cheap.

While he was pondering, he suddenly halted; the surroundings seemed unfamiliar, as he had unknowingly entered a fork in the bamboo forest. He was not particularly worried, considering the vicinity of Nine Dragons City was quite safe. Following the path, he soon came to a clearing with bamboo slashed down uniformly in one direction.

Across the bamboo forest, on a piece of blue stone, there sat an NPC with a Dark Gold name called "Nameless Swordsman."

Xiao Buli's eyelid twitched, amazed to suddenly encounter an NPC with a Dark Gold name. He had never seen such a name color before. Observing carefully, the NPC had a stylish appearance, dressed in plain-colored, wide-sleeved robes, with a bamboo hat on his head and a cloth-wrapped Longsword held tightly in his arms.

Sitting motionless there, with half of his face covered, he radiated an aura of a hermit detached from the world.

Guided by the intuition of a gaming expert, Xiao Buli decisively felt that this NPC must be someone with a significant background and might even trigger some hidden quest.

He approached the NPC and clicked on him, then typed out a question, "I perceive an extraordinary aura about you, wouldn't you by chance also be a master swordsman?"

The Nameless Swordsman: "..............."

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Buli typed again: "I'm wholeheartedly devoted to learning swordsmanship, would you please take me as your disciple?"

The Nameless Swordsman: "..............."

Still no reaction? Xiao Buli thought to himself that it's better to provoke than to plead, so he had to use his killer move.

"Could it be that you are the Longquan Sword Saint? If so, I am truly fortunate to have met you."

This time, the Nameless Swordsman finally spoke up.

The Nameless Swordsman: "Hmph, a mere youngster daring to call himself a Sword Saint, in my eyes, you're but a beginner showing off in front of an expert."

Xiao Buli said, "Since you say so, your swordsmanship must be much more superior than that of the Longquan Sword Saint. I'm wholeheartedly devoted to learning swordsmanship, please take me as your disciple."

He hadn't held much hope, but to his surprise, the other party reacted.

The Nameless Swordsman: "If you truly want to learn, then first answer me this question, what do you think is the highest realm of swordsmanship?"

A dialogue box popped up in front of Xiao Buli.

1, To have a sword in hand and a sword in heart.

2, To have a sword in hand but not in heart.

3, To have no sword in hand but one in heart.

4, To have neither sword in hand nor in heart.

This doesn't need asking, Xiao Buli thought, it must be 4.

Just as he was about to click on it, he felt that something was amiss. It seemed too simple, but the more he thought about it, the more he believed 4 was the right choice, so he bit the bullet and clicked on it.

Xiao Buli: "The highest realm of swordsmanship is naturally to have neither sword in hand nor in heart. Senior, do you think my answer is correct?"

To his surprise, the Nameless Swordsman immediately sneered in response: "Without a sharp blade in hand, and without the resolve to win in heart, how can one defeat an enemy? Such a simple question and yet you answer incorrectly, it seems you lack the aptitude for learning swordsmanship. Leave, I will not teach you."

System Prompt: The Nameless Swordsman's favorability towards you has dropped by 30 points, and your prestige with the Nameless Swordsman has decreased to cold.

The 'Nameless Swordsman's name frame also changed from the neutral yellow to the cold brown-red.

Xiao Buli was dismayed, cursing his luck. He had been misled by those martial arts novelists.

Still a little bit hopeful, he asked, "Then what should be the highest realm of swordsmanship?"

The Nameless Swordsman: "Naturally, it is to have a sword in hand, and a sword in heart. The sword in hand is the weapon to vanquish foes, the sword in heart is the spirit of bravery. With both swords as one, one is invincible in the world. This is the highest realm of swordsmanship; I have said all there is to be said, now be on your way."

System Prompt: The Nameless Swordsman's favorability towards you has dropped by 30 points, the Nameless Swordsman has become impatient.

Xiao Buli glanced at the Nameless Swordsman's dark gold colored name, not daring to linger any longer. If the favorability dropped further, it might turn hostile, and if the swordsman drew his blade, he'd be wrongly killed.

PS: There will be another chapter tonight.