Snowy Mountain Celestial Lake.
Around the temporary camp, piles of demon soldier corpses were constantly refreshing. Lin Zhao's Thunderclap Sword was already covered in blood. By five o'clock, the monster-slaying mission was completed, but the mission to defend the camp was not yet finished. The mid-fifth-realm cat demon, Hua Lu, was still commanding swarms of cat demons to attack the camp.
By this time, the demon army was also dwindling. Fewer than a hundred demon soldiers stood behind Hua Lu, while Lin Zhao's side was also running out of supplies. Lin Zhao was fine; players had excellent endurance and wouldn't die easily. However, Xiang Ji was in a bad state. After two hours of continuous fierce battle, his True Qi was exhausted, and he could only rely on his formidable physique to fight the demons. He punched and kicked the cat demons, making them yowl, while simultaneously being scratched by them. His armor was full of claw marks, and his health bar had started to drop to 95%. It was likely that the eighth-realm cat demon, Hua Lu, was about to unleash her killing intent.
Lin Zhao continued to kill monsters while closely observing the enemy.
"Almost time."
Hua Lu slowly raised her hand and unfastened the collar of her fur robe. The robe fell to the ground, revealing her perfectly curvaceous and alluring body. In the cold weather, she was only wearing a tight-fitting mini-skirt, beautiful and seductive. The next moment, she lunged forward, like a hunting wild cat, and dashed along the ground. Her palm condensed into a fearsome claw form and smashed towards Xiang Ji's back, who was in the midst of battle.
"Tear!"
Just as Hua Lu thought she was about to succeed, a silver light flashed through the air and pierced her chest. It was a silver flying sword. Instantly, Hua Lu's body was coated in a layer of frost. She turned her head and looked menacingly in the direction of the returning flying sword. That lower fifth-realm sword cultivator was too detestable; she would kill him first!
"Xiang Ji!"
Lin Zhao leaped into the air and fiercely clashed his sword against Hua Lu's claws, being sent skidding back on the snow. He said in a deep voice, "Let's team up and take her down together!"
"Good!"
Xiang Ji, with his True Qi depleted, drew his sword from the snow without a word and slashed fiercely at Hua Lu's back. If she wanted to attack Lin Zhao, fine, but she would have to endure Xiang Ji's sword.
As a result, as Hua Lu turned to swat away Xiang Ji's sword, Lin Zhao stabbed her from behind. He then unleashed skills like Qian Kun Yi Zhi and Heng Sao Qian Jun, dealing considerable damage to her health. This Hua Lu was a level 85 Flowing Gold-grade boss. If she could be defeated, there might be good loot. At least, Lin Zhao was full of anticipation.
"Damn it, you've angered me!"
Hua Lu roared and turned, swatting Lin Zhao away with her claw. But at the same time, Xiang Ji stabbed her in the lower back again. She was in immense pain and immediately turned to attack Xiang Ji, but quickly took two stabs from Lin Zhao from behind. One of the stabs landed on a soft, fleshy buttock, enraging Hua Lu.
However, she was helpless. One NPC, one player, attacking from front and back, made her extremely uncomfortable. Fighting two opponents at once was too difficult. Furthermore, the constant pulling and attacking from both sides reminded her of her youth and her encounters with those two birch forest tomcats, which was quite embarrassing to recall.
"Damn it, these two human scoundrels, what do they take me, Hua Lu, for? This is not good..."
...
In less than ten minutes, Lin Zhao continuously unleashed skills like Jian Qi Fan Long, Qian Kun Yi Zhi, and Sheng Long Zhan on Hua Lu, dealing massive damage. Xiang Ji, on the other hand, could only play a supporting role due to his depleted True Qi, with Lin Zhao dealing most of the damage. Moreover, the owner of Hua Lu's health bar was clearly displayed as "Bai Yi," indicating that victory was likely secured.
With one more sword strike, the slender and exquisitely featured mid-fifth-realm Hua Lu, depleted of her last bit of strength, fell to her knees in unwillingness and died. However, to Lin Zhao's disappointment, no equipment dropped, not even gold coins. His gamble had failed; this boss still hadn't yielded anything for him.
Still, the two S-rank missions were completed.
With Hua Lu's death, the remaining demon soldiers scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing north down the mountain. Lin Zhao did not pursue them. He spoke with Xiang Ji and proceeded to claim the rewards for the two S-rank missions. Instantly, two notification bells rang out, bringing a sense of satisfaction—
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations, you have completed the main quest [Slay Demons i] (S-rank), and received rewards: Current level experience +35%, Gold +1000, Reputation +800, Charm +1!
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations, you have completed the main quest [Defend the Camp] (S-rank), and received rewards: Current level experience +35%, Gold +1000, Reputation +800, Charm +1!
...
In an instant, he gained 70% of his current level's experience, and a rain of light descended upon him, raising him to level 77. The moment he reached level 77, his mind buzzed as if a memory was resurfacing. In his mind, he saw a figure practicing punches, it was his childhood self. The next moment, another ability of his eighth-realm martial practitioner persona officially awakened—
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations, your [Qi Chong Dou Niu Style] has been fused into a sword technique. Please name the sword technique!
...
Not bad, not bad!
The second punch of the Three Farmers' Punches had finally awakened at level 77!
Lin Zhao was overjoyed, not only because he was about to acquire a powerful sword skill, but also because his fragmented memories of his past life were slowly awakening. He did not wish to let go of those unforgettable memories. With the awakening of the Qi Chong Dou Niu Style, wasn't this a testament to that? Therefore, he was genuinely happy.
The first style, Han Di Ba Cong Shi, had become the current Sheng Long Zhan, similar to a "Dragon Punch" in fighting games. According to the principles of the Three Farmers' Punches, the second style, Qi Chong Dou Niu Shi, was akin to a "charge-up burst" move, capable of sending opponents flying with a single punch. When Lin Zhao was an eighth-realm martial practitioner, he could knock back a seventh-realm demon sword cultivator a hundred meters with a single punch. This was not just a knockback; it was a combination of super damage and a pushback effect.
In that case... he should still call it Qi Chong Dou Niu!
After all, swordsmanship could also have a "Qi Chong Dou Niu" effect!
The next second, a bell rang—
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations, you have obtained the self-created skill [Qi Chong Dou Niu] (S-rank)!
Opening the skill details, the description appeared before his eyes.
[Qi Chong Dou Niu] (S-rank): Consumes 0.5 seconds to accumulate a surge of fiery sword energy in your chest, knocking back the locked target with a single sword strike, dealing 500% damage. Upon landing, the target will be stunned for 0.5 seconds, followed by a 0.5-second silence effect due to the sword shock.
...
Like Sheng Long Zhan, it was still an S-rank skill, but its effects were extraordinary. First, the 500% damage. A single strike of Qi Chong Dou Niu was terrifyingly powerful and also added crowd control effects. After hitting the target, they would be sent flying and then stunned for 0.5 seconds upon landing, followed by a 0.5-second silence effect. This meant the opponent would be almost incapacitated for a full second.
However, the flaw of Qi Chong Dou Niu was quite apparent: it required a 0.5-second charge-up time, the legendary skill channeling time. For ranged classes like mages and rangers, it was manageable, as they maintained distance during PvP and had enough time to buffer skill casts. But for melee classes like sword masters, it was not ideal. Most people's reaction time was within 0.2 seconds. Seeing an opponent start charging a skill, they would immediately attack. Who would wait for them to prepare their skill?
Therefore, Qi Chong Dou Niu needed a preceding skill to cooperate with it. Either Jian Qi Zhuang Ji or Sheng Long Zhan. Otherwise, this skill would only be useful for leveling up. Against true masters, it would undoubtedly be countered, and then they would be hit with a "confirmable attack," which would be a loss.
No rush, he would research it slowly later!
A few minutes later, Chen Xue sent a message: "Dinner!"
...
At night, in Baima City, Mo Chenxue, Xiao Xia, and others gathered more friends, finally forming a 10-person team. Ten people were more than enough to complete an S-rank mission, even if Yuan Qi Man Man was not present.
The group left the city and used the hidden profession "Mù Shén Zhě" (Shepherd God) transfer certificate in a designated forest outside the city. However, the moment the transfer certificate was activated, a bell resounded throughout Baima City—
"Ding!"
System announcement: Player [Mo Chenxue] has successfully triggered the hidden profession [Mù Shén Zhě] transfer quest. The quest location is at coordinates [Pine Forest] (12332, 55442). All players are welcome to enter the map to escort the player to complete the quest, or to disrupt the quest. Within 180 minutes, player [Mo Chenxue] must survive the monster onslaught, or the quest will fail!
"Ah?!"
Mo Chenxue panicked instantly. She had planned to complete this quest stealthily, but she never expected it to cause such a stir, triggering a city-wide announcement. What should she do?
...
Outside Tianji City, Ghost King, clad in top-tier armor and mounted on a tall steed, was leading his army on patrol. He suddenly received this message, and his brows furrowed. He immediately sent a message to Chang Ye Yu Huo: "Alliance Leader Chang Ye Yu Huo, Mo Chenxue is actually undertaking a transfer quest in Baima City. This is unacceptable. Immediately dispatch people to kill her within half an hour. If the quest can be disrupted, I am willing to offer an additional 5 million general currency as a friendly reward!"
"Okay!"
Upon hearing the 5 million, Chang Ye Yu Huo's heart fluttered, and he readily agreed, "Don't worry, this is a must. I'll personally lead people out of the city to do her eighteen times, hahahaha~~~~"
Snowy Mountain Celestial Lake.
Lin Zhao, who was grinding monsters, also received the news from Ding Chi. A few seconds later, Chen Xue sent him a message: "Our informant in Baima City just sent word that Chang Ye Yu Huo has led a large contingent out of the city, likely heading for Mo Chenxue and her group."
"Too reckless..."
Lin Zhao frowned and sent a message to Chang Ye Yu Huo: "Mo Chenxue has just initiated a transfer quest. I implore Alliance Leader Chang Ye Yu Huo to give me some face and show leniency..."
"Face?"
Chang Ye Yu Huo, in the face of the additional 5 million reward, lost all pretense of civility. "Alliance Leader Bai Yi, how much is your face worth? Hahaha, do you really think you're something?"
...
Lin Zhao fell silent for a moment, then sent a screenshot of his conversation with Chang Ye Yu Huo to Chen Xue.
Chen Xue was also silent for a moment, then she directly shared the screenshot in the Scarlet Moon Knights guild chat. Clearing her throat, she spoke as the Vice Alliance Leader: "We, the Scarlet Moon Knights, intend to protect Mo Chenxue. The Alliance Leader had previously agreed with Chang Ye Yu Huo. Now Chang Ye Yu Huo has gone back on his word. What do you all say?"
"What else can we say?"
Lu Han roared, "Damn it, this isn't even about Mo Chenxue. Chang Ye Yu Huo can be as arrogant as he wants, he can even pee on my head if he wants, but he dares to disrespect our Alliance Leader, that's unacceptable! Who does Chang Ye Yu Huo think he is?"
Shen Xingchen directly stated in the guild chat: "Agree to send troops. Those who want to tread Ningzhou underfoot, type 1 in the guild channel. Those who disagree, type 2!"
For a moment, the guild channel was flooded with 1s, not a single 2 in sight!
...
"Swish!"
Lin Zhao had already crushed the scroll and returned to Tianji City. He mounted his horse, drew his Thunderclap Sword, and said in a deep voice, "My brothers, follow me to war and tread Ningzhou underfoot!"