Bai Di City, quiet at night.
Suddenly, a system announcement bell rang out above the city, marking the prelude to an absurd, chaotic era.
"Ding!"
System Announcement (Player Ding Chunqiu's Shout): Friends of the national server, I am Ding Chunqiu of "All Villains". I know that many people have looked down on us during this period. These sanctimonious people think I, Ding Chunqiu, am nothing, that I'm unscrupulous. But friends, have you ever thought about it? What the hell is the metaverse? What the hell is the second world? It's nothing more than resource plundering in a different guise. Those backed by consortiums can obtain more game resources and recruit more people. I ask you, which one of us, when leveling up, hasn't been expelled or even PKed by large guilds? When they were eating meat, they wouldn't even give us a drop of soup, yet now they stand on the moral high ground and accuse us "All Villains" of joining the ghost race. Then I, Ding Chunqiu, want to ask, in our martial world rules, it's survival of the fittest. Who has my path been in the way of? Yes, your Xinghe, Canglong, and Xunxian guilds have repeatedly joined forces to eliminate us, but what about now? I, Ding Chunqiu, am level 131, the number one ranked player on the national server's level leaderboard. My brothers and I just want to make a living, just want to live with dignity. Can you kill people like us all? Today, I, Ding Chunqiu, want to say to all friends on the server: destiny can be controlled by oneself. Don't believe those authorities, those moral lectures. What's wrong with killing players to level up? The laws of heaven and earth stipulate this. From this moment on, I, Ding Chunqiu, call upon all players on the server. As long as you are willing to join the ghost cultivators, I, Ding Chunqiu, will introduce you. Everyone can become a disciple unconditionally. We are indeed a group of commoners. Since heaven and earth cannot accommodate us, then we will use our own flesh and bones to open up this chaotic world. Anyone who wants to join, please come to Jizi Forest. The secret password is "The sky is dead, the yellow sky will rise." We await your arrival. Once you're here, you're brothers, and we'll feast together!
...
"..."
Xueyu Tianchi, North Mountain Cliff. Lin Zhao had just seen Lin Wanhua off and was about to start the intermediate refinement of five immortal swords when Ding Chunqiu's system announcement arrived, leaving him somewhat amused and speechless.
Beside him, Leng Yan and Shen Xingchen sat on the cliff edge, taking a short break.
"Turning black into white, and speaking so passionately, it's not easy."
Leng Yan smiled faintly and said, "Ding Chunqiu, he still has the demeanor of an ambitious figure."
"Hmph~~~"
Shen Xingchen chuckled, "Saying so many passionate words, but it all boils down to one thing: I'm just a sophisticated egoist. Is it wrong that I want to live? Whoever blocks my path, I'll destroy them. This is also a kind of justice. His words make us who want to protect the interests of all players seem selfish."
"It doesn't matter."
Lin Zhao said, "We'll see how it ends. The coffin bearers' lineage is gradually growing stronger in the Jizi Forest area and is about to gain momentum. Even if we here in Xueyu Tianchi don't intervene, the Great Shang Dynasty won't stand by and do nothing."
"En."
Leng Yan got up and said, "Xingchen and I are going down the mountain to level up. You continue refining your swords."
"Alright, be careful."
After watching Leng Yan and Shen Xingchen depart, Lin Zhao sat cross-legged on the spot and began the intermediate refinement of the five immortal swords: Zhixin, Guoke, Xianchen, Fengling, and Gucheng. The refinement of these immortal swords was much easier than that of their Natal Flying Swords. After all, it was only intermediate refinement, and each sword only required 45 minutes to complete.
Not long after, the first immortal sword, Zhixin, was successfully refined. With a "swish," it transformed into a faint red glow and merged into his body. When Lin Zhao looked inward, he saw an immortal sword suspended in his spiritual void, which was Zhixin. Towering sword intent emanated from around the immortal sword, and his previous worries vanished. Although these intermediate refined sword immortals were not nurtured in the Yun Jian Lake, nurturing them in the spiritual void was just as effective. Once intermediate refined, they could not be dropped, making them extremely stable.
He began to refine the second flying sword, Guoke.
Moreover, since it was intermediate refinement, he didn't need to concentrate too much. He could multitask. After exchanging a few words with Shu Zhi in his heart, Shu Zhi, Mu Gua, and Chen Ben all arrived.
"My lord."
Shu Zhi and Mu Gua bowed.
Chen Ben, however, plopped down beside Lin Zhao and chuckled, "Brother Lin Zhao, did you call for us for something?"
"En."
Lin Zhao nodded. "We need to discuss something. It requires your and Mu Gua's approval, and it would be best if Shu Zhi also overhears, as this matter is actually quite important to the Mountain Peak Villa."
"My lord, please speak." Mu Gua said.
"Good."
Lin Zhao continued refining his sword while looking south. "I traveled south with Wang Yue to roam the world. When we reached Furong Prefecture, I encountered a martial artist in the Rebirth Realm."
Instantly, Shu Zhi, Mu Gua, and Chen Ben's eyes lit up. Martial artists in the Rebirth Realm were extremely rare, countable on a few fingers.
Lin Zhao continued, "His name is Long Dongjun, the sect leader of Tie Fushan, the strongest boxing sect in the southern human realm. Through Long Dongjun, I learned that we have a connection. Back then, Uncle Long Zaitian, the farmer from the small town, was not only good at farming but also skilled in boxing. My 'Farmer's Three Punches' were learned from Uncle Long Zaitian. Now I realize that Uncle Long Zaitian actually came from the south and was a disciple of Tie Fushan. The 'Farmer's Three Punches' are merely the first three forms of Tie Fushan's supreme skill, the Nirvana Fist Technique."
"This..."
Mu Gua frowned, greatly shocked. In his understanding, the "Farmer's Three Punches" was a peerless boxing technique that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Rong Ma Boxing Technique. He never imagined it was merely the first three forms of someone else's technique! If that were the case, then the complete Nirvana Fist Technique must be incredibly invincible.
Lin Zhao smiled and said, "Tie Fushan has twelve famous peaks, a sacred land that all martial artists in the world aspire to. Legend has it that if someone can reach the summit of all the peaks, they have a chance to become a martial artist at the thirteenth realm's extreme peak. Therefore, before I departed, I told Sect Leader Long Dongjun that I would send Chen Ben south to travel, with Tie Fushan as his final destination. Chen Ben will train at Tie Fushan for a period, and then challenge the twelve peaks. Ideally, he would break through his realm directly at Tie Fushan and become a martial artist in the Heavenly Origin Realm before returning. Of course, it's fine if he doesn't break through; as long as he improves, that's enough."
"Brother Lin Zhao..."
Chen Ben clenched his fists, his heart surging with emotion as he listened.
Lin Zhao looked at Mu Gua and smiled, "Chen Ben should have no problem. It depends on whether you, his master, are willing."
"Chen Ben is still young."
Mu Gua frowned, "And he has no worldly experience. The human martial world is full of dangers. I'm truly worried he'll suffer losses alone. Although he's a martial artist in the Sea Crossing Realm, after all, there are many realms in the human world. How about this... My lord, can I take a leave of absence to accompany Chen Ben south?"
"Is that necessary?"
Lin Zhao smiled, "Mu Gua, you're letting concern cloud your judgment. If Chen Ben never undergoes tempering in the martial world, do you think he won't suffer losses even with a high realm?"
Chen Ben gritted his teeth and said, "Master, I can do it alone! I heard that Brother Lin Zhao also went south with a sword alone at sixteen. Although Chen Ben is far less intelligent than Brother Lin Zhao, he is ultimately a martial artist in the Sea Crossing Realm. Since it's Brother Lin Zhao's wish, I am willing to make this journey and see how powerful the Twelve Peaks of Tie Fushan truly are."
Lin Zhao nodded with a smile. Young people should have such ambition. If he had Chen Ben's current formidable strength in the Sea Crossing Realm back then, he would have been fearless, not just in Bai Di City, but all the way to the southern wilderness.
Shu Zhi said, "Mu Gua, I know you care for Chen Ben, but there's no way around it. You can't protect him forever, can you? Young people must go down the mountain to temper themselves."
"I understand."
Mu Gua cupped his fists and said, "My lord, I will go and prepare more food and drink for Chen Ben. He will descend the mountain and head south at first light tomorrow."
"En."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Go. I hope you return as an eleventh-realm martial artist."
"Yes!"
Mu Gua and Chen Ben turned and left.
Lin Zhao continued to intermediate refine his flying swords. By late night, Zhixin, Guoke, Xianchen, Fengling, and Gucheng had all been successfully refined and were suspended in the spiritual void, awaiting their master's summons and control. Lin Zhao was not in a hurry and began refining the twelve flying swords gifted by Lin Wanhua. They were all top-grade ancient swords. Since these swords were only for minor refinement, top-grade was most suitable. Using immortal sword-grade flying swords would be a waste and the spiritual void could not bear such immense immortal sword aura, leading to a detrimental effect.
...
Jizi Forest.
A large number of players poured in, a crowd that even the guilds of Xinghe, Xunxian, and Canglong could not stop. These players' levels and equipment were often not good enough; some weren't even considered mid-tier second-line. But at this moment, they all dreamed of striking it rich, hoping to change their lives through a gamble, and they all believed Ding Chunqiu's words.
"The sky is dead!"
"The yellow sky will rise!"
Many people shouted the so-called "secret password." For a time, ghost cultivator players lurking in the forest revealed themselves, learning the ways of martial world figures, carrying coffins on their backs. They cupped their fists towards the newcomers and said with a smile, "New friends, 'All Villains' welcomes you. Let's go, we'll take you to see the boss, and then you can join the sect!"
Everyone nodded, their faces filled with anticipation.
...
Furong Prefecture, Wangxin Lake, Lingyan Sword Sect.
Within Mengxin Small Dwelling, on a rockery, a young girl in a green dress stood, her body enveloped by sword intent. Her delicate eyebrows were furrowed, and she tried hard to calm herself to comprehend a wisp of sword charm, but she was unable to truly find peace.
"Meng Jun, what's wrong?"
Not far away, Sect Leader Xie Yiying frowned. "Why are you so absent-minded during sword practice today?"
"Ah?!"
Chen Mengjun was slightly stunned, then said, "Master, I was momentarily distracted, I'm sorry..."
"It's alright, calm yourself."
"Yes!"
However, it was difficult to calm her mind. Every time Chen Mengjun was about to immerse herself in the state of mind of a sword cultivator, a heartfelt voice echoed in her ears.
"Meng Jun ah..."
For a moment, Chen Mengjun's pretty face blushed. That person's teasing voice, his smiling expression, seemed to be branded in her mind.
"..."
Not far away, Xie Yiying felt a headache coming on. Had she already left a lingering affection?
She sighed.
What a calamity! This was her most beloved and most hopeful disciple. Lin Zhao, that little scoundrel, was truly a sinner!