Chapter 19: Fierce in the Game, Timid in Reality

Qi Yuan swung his giant sword, tearing through the ranks of the garment monsters. His skills flared one after another.

......

[Cranial Split]

[Xiaoxiang Sword Rain]

[Bloodlight Escape]

[XP +300]

[XP +200]

[XP +400]

He killed with abandon, finally feeling the thrill of real gaming again. To him, every garment monster before him was nothing but a walking bundle of XP.

Through the battlefield he rampaged, his giant sword striking with unmatched might.

As he ripped apart oversized trousers, split long robes into two, and stabbed straight through silk straps, Qi Yuan felt utterly in his element.

More and more garment monsters appeared, but it didn't matter. Trees snapped, and monsters were cleaved apart. The dozens of meters around him was his personal slaughterhouse.

He was the incarnation of god of war, reducing every garment monster that approached him into his 'XP baby.'

Due to it being nighttime, the garment monsters couldn't gather quick enough, and had to fight on their own. To Qi Yuan, it was like a wolf thrown into a flock of sheep. He could wreak such havoc in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone because its beasts never fought as one in the first place.

The garment monsters stirred up one after another, but too slowly. He carved a bloody path, leaving newly awakened garments dazed and confused.

He charged toward the chaos in the distance. "So even monsters can cause a stampede..."

Of course, the 'stampede' of garment monsters wasn't like that of ordinary beasts. Startled from slumber, they lashed out instinctively, attacking blindly. The weak ones inevitably got dragged into the mess.

"Die!"

Qi Yuan became a grinding machine, slaying endlessly through the night.

After a few hours, reality set in.

"No... I've got to get out of here."

Even dulled by darkness, the monsters were beginning to regroup, forming a battle formation and advancing on him. It was time to run. As usual, he dug himself a pit and buried himself underground.

"Not bad... level 84. My strength's improved a lot."

After one night of grinding, he had gained nearly a level and a half worth of XP.

"At this pace, I'll have the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone under control in half a month."

If he struck like this every night, the place would be all but cleared in two weeks. By then, he'd probably even reach level 90 and unlock another major skill, doubling his strength. The Heavenly Dao spirit item he sought would finally be within reach!

Just then, a thought hit him, and his mood plummeted.

"Is cultivating really this brutal? I have to tear a world asunder just to form a Heavenly Dao class? Those so-called prodigies who managed to do it... just how terrifying must they be? If I ever meet one, I'd better steer clear."

He lay back in the pit, shifting into a comfortable position. As always, he sent a message to Jin Li. He told her about tonight's raid, wished her good night, and logged out.

He couldn't stay online too long, as his spirit couldn't endure it. In fact, he'd tested it before and stayed more than half a day. The effects were severe. He was like an ordinary person suffering sudden hypoglycemia, his vision darkening and his body giving out. As such, he never stayed in-game for more than twelve hours.

Still, before logging off, he couldn't help but sigh bitterly. "Fierce in the game but timid in reality..."

It was true. In the game, he was a demon slayer. Monsters would scatter in terror at the sight of his blade. In reality? He was cautious to the point of cowardice, powerless to even kill a single Core Formation cultivator. His only hope lay in the knife awakening its own spirit. Then maybe—just maybe—he'd stand a chance, but even that was far from guaranteed.

***

The next morning, Qi Yuan awoke to what sounded like thousands of ducks quacking in unison.

He got up, dressed, washed, and stepped out into the courtyard. Three young women stood ahead of him.

Taking a deep breath of crisp morning air, he asked, "What's all the noise about so early?"

One was his junior sister, Jiang Lingsu. Another he recognized, a girl who'd entered the Divine Radiance Sect this year as an A-grade disciple. He remembered not choosing her to join the Seven-Colored Peak. She seemed innocent enough on the surface, but her eyes carried a faint trace of seduction. He also recalled that she had a rare constitution, enough to catch the attention of the Black Rooster Demon. [1]

The last girl looked ordinary, save for her freckles—a rarity among cultivators.

"Greetings, Senior Brother."

The three bowed respectfully. As the sect's chief disciple, his status was lofty. Even yesterday, Zheng Jianghe stopped just to bow to Qi Yuan before going on his way.

Jiang Lingsu glanced at his half-awake state and couldn't help remarking, "Senior Brother, it's already noon. It is hardly early anymore."

Qi Yuan looked up at the sun. It was huge and round.

Haa... It must be because I've been thinking about forming a Golden Core lately. Now everything I see looks huge and round.

Then, he glanced back at the girls. "What were you talking about just now? You all looked so indignant."

The innocent-looking girl exclaimed, anger flaring in her face, "It's the Black Mountain Sect!"

Qi Yuan recalled that Zheng Jianghe had led Golden Light Hall to Rong City yesterday over matters related to the Black Mountain Sect.

"What happened?"

"Some days ago, a Black Mountain Sect's core disciple, Chu Tianxiong, committed heinous crimes in Rong City. He raped several newlywed women and slaughtered their entire families. Outrageous! So, Brother Zheng Jianghe led the Golden Light Hall and captured him!" she said, tripping over her words in anger.

Jiang Lingsu chimed in. "Even after being captured, Chu Tianxiong was arrogant beyond belief. On the way back, a Black Mountain sect elder appeared and took him away, even injuring Brother Zheng Jianghe in the process!"

All three young women seethed with anger. Even the freckled girl clenched her fists, wishing she could kill Chu Tianxiong herself.

The innocent-looking girl, Jiang Ran, fumed. "That sect is far too arrogant!"

The freckled one said bitterly, "If not for the Black Rooster Demon, would the Black Mountain Sect dare act so brazenly?"

Hearing that name, Jiang Ran's face grew heavy.

Qi Yuan, however, just said, "I've watched plenty of dramas. Villains never end well."

The three girls blinked, confused.

What's a drama?

However, they understood the latter half, which gave them a pause.

Do villains really never end well?

Jiang Lingsu thought back to the demonic overlord who once slaughtered an entire kingdom. When he visited her clan, her father and grandfather had treated him with utmost respect. In this world, where strength ruled above all, bad men often lived better than good ones.

Still, she nodded and said, "Senior Brother is right. Good will be rewarded, evil repaid. Not that it won't be, only that the time has yet to come."

1. Chapter 2 ☜