Chapter 154: It’s Actually the Chief!

The Qingcheng Qi Refining Method reached the fifteenth level. Ye Rong obtained the derivative spell, Blood Sword Sky-Bursting Art.

The Blood Sword Sky-Bursting Art forcibly tempered a flying sword using the Qingcheng Heart Method, temporarily elevating the flying sword by one tier. Effective on flying swords of the fifth tier or lower. After one hour, the flying sword would automatically shatter irreparably, and its use was limited to five times per day.

After continuously changing locations three times—burning three sticks of Soul Attracting Incense—countless Aquatic Demonic Creatures fell to Ye Rong’s hands, earning him the moniker ‘Slayer of Aquatic Races’. Finally, his Qingcheng Qi Refining Method climbed two levels straight to the fifteenth level.

“Forcibly tempering a flying sword to raise its tier?”

Ye Rong frowned slightly. This derivative spell seemed a bit like trash. It made a fifth-rank flying sword become sixth-rank, but the effect only lasted one hour, after which the sword became junk. Its effect sounded quite similar to a defective, side-effect-prone brand of Viagra.

Moreover, given such a cost of consumption, probably few Qingcheng Players could afford to use it.

The key point was that the effect of the Blood Sword Sky-Bursting Art wasn’t powerful enough. If it could elevate a Sixth-Rank Flying Sword to a Seventh-Rank Flying Sword, that would be a qualitative change; someone might be willing to try it then. It could potentially turn the tide in crucial moments, like during a Dueling Stage match.

“Too extravagant. To use this spell, you’d practically need a pile of spare flying swords ready. Using it once means losing nearly a thousand yuan. That’s hard to bear… seriously.”

Fortunately, the main reason Ye Rong had desperately raised the Qingcheng Qi Refining Method’s tier was to enter the Ancestral Hall and complete the Lesser Yang Divine Thunder. Even if this derivative spell was disappointing, it wouldn’t make him feel downhearted.

Besides, based on the Qingcheng Sword Art, he knew all Qingcheng Sect’s Dao Scrolls experienced a qualitative leap when they reached the full completion of the twentieth level. While other Sects had such leaps too, it was especially pronounced within the Qingcheng Sect.

Jianggong Wangyue from the Sect Minor Competition was a prime example. Relying on the temporarily boosted full completion of his twentieth-level Sword Art Form achieved through a specific technique, he firmly suppressed Ye Rong, whose strength had originally far surpassed his.

Had Ye Rong not had his ace up his sleeve, he almost would have lost right then and there on those two Green Jade Icy Radiance Towers that appeared upon the manifestation of the full twentieth-level Sword Art Form.

Given this precedent, it stood to reason that when the Qingcheng Qi Refining Method reached its twentieth level, the derivative spell it manifested would similarly possess potent and mighty abilities.

“Yijian! The number of Inkfish Spirits slain by the Dry Flame Sword Embryo is nearing four hundred. Looks like there’s real hope to complete it today!”

Lines like the purest black ink began to swim across the surface of the Dry Flame Sword Embryo in Breeze Clear and Clouds Light’s hands. They resembled the most profound patterns, radiating an air of mystery, yet they were naturally formed, not carved or drawn by any later hand.

“Great! Let’s head to the next spot immediately and try to speed things up!”

After reaching the fifteenth level with the Qingcheng Qi Refining Method, Ye Rong switched it out. He replaced the cultivation slot in his Dao Scrolls with the Qingcheng Sword Art.

He planned to achieve the remaining five levels through study in the Ancestral Hall. Relying on normal leveling was just too slow by comparison. On the other hand, his Qingcheng Sword Art was already at the seventeenth level; it held much more promise for reaching full completion at the twentieth level soon. Achieving it earlier would free him to specialize in an advanced Sword Art Form.

Between the two advanced Sword Art Forms, Wuzhen Sword Art and Songfeng Sword Art, Ye Rong chose the Wuzhen Sword Art without hesitation—

Because as he was leaving the Main Hall, Senior Brother Chen Taizhen had told him: “Master instructed me to tell you, Junior Brother, that you absolutely must choose to practice the Wuzhen Sword Art. He said this Sword Art Form suits your temperament and is most advantageous for your development.”

Since his Master, the Demon-Subduing True Lord Jiang Shu, had spoken so, Ye Rong naturally wouldn’t question it further and immediately decided on the Wuzhen Sword Art.

“Brother Yijian, looks like we’ve got trouble. Leaving won’t be so easy.”

Breeze Clear and Clouds Light’s expression turned serious. His flying sword suddenly began swaying rapidly, emitting a series of ‘ding dong ding dong’ chimes.

Apart from exceptional speed, his flying sword’s other attributes were very ordinary. He had chosen it solely for pursuing the ultimate speed limit. It had only one added spell: a warning and tracking effect…

…

“Brother-in-law Chief! It’s them two! That Qingcheng fellow slaughtered us all and even took my Peach Blossom Cloud Barrier!”

San Mao Chao Si was nearly hopping with agitation, gnashing his teeth furiously as he pointed at Ye Rong and Breeze Clear and Clouds Light.

He and Da Jiang Yingxiong’s team had practically scoured the entire length of the Black Water River without finding the one who killed him. They were almost giving up hope when these two suddenly appeared right there—they still hadn’t left!

The Great River Gang wasn’t negligible; a faction with a scale of over a thousand players plus a complex composition of Players meant they had some tricks up their sleeves.

People instantly spread out, blocking both the upper and lower water paths, while others circled around to the back.

Someone pulled out a Demonic Soul Banner and shook it vigorously. A plume of black smoke scattered forth, vaguely trapping the two men opposite within it.

“Wanzi! Your Heaven-Shrouding Demon Banner grows more formidable!”

San Mao Chao Si chuckled flatteringly, but Wanzi only gave him a detached glance and ignored him, leaving San Mao Chao Si visibly uncomfortable.

Youzha Wanzi had always looked down on San Mao Chao Si and his ilk. He had only joined the Great River Gang because he owed Da Jiang Yingxiong a favor back then and found it hard to refuse.

The Kongtong Sect was, at best, a third-rate Sect in the Far Shore, even shoddier than the Huashan Sect. Huashan at least had the Ancestor Liehuo to give it some presence, while Kongtong lacked even one respectable senior NPC. The game company, probably unable to bear this pathetic state, seemingly just stuffed a bunch of high-level, obscure NPCs into it. But they couldn’t compare at all to famous high-level NPCs; their Magic Treasures and the Dao Spells they cultivated weren’t on the same tier.

However, Kongtong wasn’t entirely useless. There was the Western Kongtong branch, whose Sect Leader was a highly famed elder within the Demonic Path: King Xuanyuan of the Dharma.

King Xuanyuan of the Dharma held an extremely senior standing within the Demonic Path. The strength of his demonic arts ranked firmly within the top five; he was truly unfathomable.

Youzha Wanzi had originally been a Kongtong Disciple but later, having encountered some undisclosed opportunity, defected to Western Kongtong and became a disciple of King Xuanyuan’s lineage.

Within the Great River Gang, in terms of personal combat strength, only Da Jiang Yingxiong surpassed Youzha Wanzi. Naturally, he felt no need to show a pleasant face to a troublemaker like San Mao Chao Si, who lacked real skill, nor did he have to worry about offending the gang leader’s brother-in-law.

“You two friends! State your origins! Care to give your names? You trespassed into Great River Gang territory, stole our monsters, and killed Gang members who came to reason with you. Care to explain?”

Seeing the situation now under control, Da Jiang Yingxiong, brimming with confidence, stepped forward and declared loudly.

Unlike the clueless San Mao Chao Si, as the leader of a faction, Da Jiang Yingxiong still had some observational skills. The flying swords and Magic Treasures worn by the two opposing Players shimmered with dazzling light and flowed with internal iridescence; one look told him their tiers were extraordinary.

Before dealing with them, it was best to ask clearly about their backgrounds and origins, to see if they had a backer he couldn’t afford to offend.

Furthermore, even if they killed these two, the Peach Blossom Cloud Barrier might not drop. If only some random piece of junk fell out, the loss would still be irrecoverable – something he definitely didn’t want to see.

“Eh? You don’t know me?”

Ye Rong cursed silently inside. Was his presence so incredibly low? Even a gang operating near the Qingcheng Sect didn’t recognize him? This would be far too embarrassing if word got out.

Uproot! He must immediately uproot this major cancer, this sore that was seizing the leveling resources of Qingcheng Disciples!

Harboring this fierce resentment in his heart, he listed the Great River Gang as the critical target to eliminate in the near future. Absolutely, he wouldn’t let them off.

His own team in the Tuojiang River Basin numbered a little over two hundred people, but each was carefully selected by Pecking Chicken. Not only was everyone individually strong, but their online availability was also relatively guaranteed; they wouldn’t simply vanish during team actions like ghosts.

Ordinary Player factions might claim a thousand-person scale, but in reality, when something happened, the number they could genuinely rely on and quickly muster was only around a hundred folks; these were the true Elite Members.

Therefore, although Ye Rong’s team was small, its strength was greater, its cohesion superior, and enhanced further by a super expert like him joining. Destroying the Great River Gang wasn’t an insurmountable task at all.

“Hah! You think you’re Ni Shui Han or Feng Yiban Nanzi? Who says we have to know you?”

San Mao Chao Si clutched his stomach, laughing uproariously, provoking many Great River Gang members into following suit with guffaws.

High-profile figures like Ni Shui Han, or Players ranked in the top thirty of the Heavenly Ranking, were focal points of discussion on the Forum; their names were constantly brought up. Videos of them appearing instantly attracted massive viewership, often racking up millions of hits.

Sensational videos, featuring the killing of a super Boss or large-scale team battles, could inspire intense, days-long discussions among Players within the game. Such videos might garner hits in the tens of millions, even billions.

Such individuals had familiar appearances and enjoyed enormous fame.

There were even rumors swirling that a company specializing in solid food products was preparing to sign Ni Shui Han as its spokesperson, offering a yearly fee of five hundred thousand yuan. Reportedly, he turned it down.

Regardless of the rumor’s truth, its existence alone proved Ni Shui Han’s visibility and the immense popularity of the game, the Far Shore.

“G-G-Gang Leader… H-he… he seems to be our Qingcheng Sect’s Chief Disciple…”

There was also a Qingcheng Disciple within the Great River Gang. Standing behind Da Jiang Yingxiong, trembling, he managed to force out these words.

As a Qingcheng Disciple, he understood far too well how terrifying Yijian Kurong was. Something utterly beyond what the Great River Gang’s current forces could handle. And even if they could handle it, he wasn’t willing to participate. If he’d known San Mao Chao Si had provoked the Chief, he would’ve run for the hills or outright defected and joined him long ago.

What future prospects could a measly Great River Gang offer? How much benefit could it provide? The Chief was the crucial arbiter of an ordinary Qingcheng Disciple’s prospects, the truly massive pillar to cling to. Embracing that leg meant prosperity lay ahead.

What bird was the Great River Gang compared to the Chief?!