Chapter 8: Injury
A thin, old man representing the Long Spear Sect expressionlessly recited a series of polite phrases, and then provided benefits for the entry-level disciples to A Fei. It was evident that this NPC was a functional NPC, as anyone who approached would receive the same words. He was not swayed in the slightest by the protagonist's handsome appearance and abundant talents, and impartially handed over a standard set of Magic Mountain Sect uniforms, basic spear techniques, and basic internal skills, along with a beginner's long spear.
Collecting his thoughts, A Fei hurriedly made his way towards the direction of the Mo Shan Sect. The Great Sword God and the others had pointed him in the right direction before they left and warned him that the disciples of Mount Hua would soon return, which instilled in him a sense of urgency for the first time. As he traversed the streets and alleys, he paid no attention to the scenery along the way, deeply fearful of encountering the disciples of Mount Hua.
The four individuals had already walked far away, yet the sound of laughter from the golden ringed knife could still be heard
This technique is unique to marksmanship, allowing the practitioner to lift heavy objects or individuals into the air, preventing them from landing. Moreover, this technique can also be used for aerial combat; when the spear is held upright, enemies falling from the sky are met with disaster. Therefore, this move is particularly effective against those with high agility. ... Just imagine, when an opponent uses the technique "Great Roc Spreading Its Wings" and lunges forward, they end up landing on a long spear, resulting in a painful foot injury at best, or worse, serious harm to their lower regions. If the opponent is a female player ... . ... Ahem, let's not dwell on that. Just imagine, when an opponent uses the technique "Great Roc Spreading Its Wings" and lunges forward, they end up landing on a long spear, resulting in a painful foot injury at best, or worse, serious harm to their lower regions. If the opponent is a female player ... . ... Ahem, let's not dwell on that.
First, both you and I belong to the Mo Mountain Sect; second, we are not on good terms with the Hua Mountain Sect; third, you and I have a great affinity for each other, haha! Farewell in the martial world, poor Ah Fei
Ah Fei did not know what to say, he simply bid farewell to each of the four individuals. The Great Sword God even gifted Ah Fei a long spear. This spear was entirely golden, appearing to be an extraordinary weapon. The Great Sword God mentioned that this weapon could only be used at level 30, and it was obtained from defeating monsters. Ah Fei was very grateful and could not help but ask before leaving: "Why are you helping me?"
A Fei stood still for a while, then let out a sigh. Once the figures of the four individuals disappeared, he felt an inexplicable sense of loss in his heart. Although it was their first meeting, these four were exceptionally straightforward, which left him with a good impression. Traveling alongside them not only broadened his horizons but also uplifted his spirits; he felt that time passed swiftly without any awkwardness. It was evident that the four were high-level players in the game, while he was not on the same level as them. This parting meant that they would truly only meet again in the game.
There are various techniques in marksmanship, including thrust, sweep, lift, burst, roll, smash, shake, entangle, frame, counter, and block. However, since a game is ultimately a game, the designers, in their quest for simplicity, have condensed and simplified the martial arts into four categories: thrust, block, lift, and sweep, which have become the four fundamental techniques of marksmanship. Each martial art can be executed with internal energy or can be performed without it through sheer force. Any technique in the game’s martial arts encompasses both offense and defense, though they may emphasize one over the other. Thrust and sweep lean towards offense, while block and lift lean towards defense.
After crossing the mountain, I walked for a while along the road, yet it remained deserted. The vast training ground of the Longqiang Gate seemed to have turned into a desolate graveyard. The monsters had not seen players for a long time, and upon spotting a living human, they all howled and rushed forward, eager to get a taste of flesh. Ah Fei was startled; he was only at level 3. Although these monsters were not of high level, he did not possess the ability to take on hundreds of them alone. Thus, he took off running. Although he had never practiced lightness skills, he was able to shake off the monsters' pursuit.
Everyone harbors a dream of martial arts, and Ah Fei is no exception. Although he is in his twenties, no longer a child and considered an adult, this sacred realm has never been claimed by the mundane world
After turning over two mountain peaks, he finally heard the sound of weapons clashing ahead. A-Fei was overjoyed, as he had finally spotted other players. He rushed around a large rock, and suddenly, a flash of white light appeared before him, followed by a sharp pain in his head, causing him to involuntarily sit down on the ground. The system notified him that he had been attacked and severely injured, leaving him unable to muster any strength.
However, he can be considered a person who finds joy in his own company. His enthusiasm for learning martial arts remains undiminished; he has spent half a day entertaining himself, killing hundreds of wild boars. His basic marksmanship and internal strength have surprisingly advanced by one level, raising his rank to level three. Feeling a surge of confidence in his martial skills, he is eager to find a player to test his abilities. Yet, when he turns around, he sees rolling hills and lush waters, with monsters leisurely grazing, contentedly munching on grass. A few wild boars nearby are snorting through their nostrils, their eyes red with rage, preparing to charge at him once more to avenge their fallen kin.
It is evident that A Fei, as a young hero of the martial world, cannot hide his expressions. His surprise elicited smiles from the four individuals, and the Great Sword God remarked, "Do not be surprised, we guessed it. However, I have also heard today about a new novice traitor from Mount Hua, and I did not expect it to be you"
There are actually no other players here
The Great Sword God smiled slightly and said: "Of course we are aware. For instance, your identity, your understanding of the game, the direction of your journey, the fare for your transportation... However, rest assured, we harbor no ill intentions. Otherwise, we would not have brought you along. You should know that in Xiangyang City, at least three teams of Huashan disciples are searching for you."
In summary, A Fei was having a great time, feeling as though he had thrust his spear, with his internal energy following suit. Before him, a small wild boar was squealing loudly, reaching a climax. With A Fei's current skills, leveling up was merely a matter of taking on two opponents at once, while still being wary of the risk of being surrounded. After playing for a while, A Fei finally grasped the auxiliary skill of Light and Shadow Division. With the aid of this skill, after a thrust, he could clearly see the shadow of another thrust beside him, and if there were other wild boars nearby, they would be randomly struck. However, with so many wild boars, he could only attack one. He also could not control the direction of that shadow, which was somewhat of a regret.
In the game, there is no issue of housing prices or locations, so the major sects can construct their mountain gates as extravagantly as they wish, as they are merely a collection of data that costs nothing. The Demon Mountain Sect faithfully embodies the characteristics of the wealthy, building an enormous mountain gate. Take the entrance at A Fei's feet, paved with marble, spacious and bright, ample enough for four horse-drawn carriages to enter side by side without any difficulty. The two large characters "Demon Mountain" hang above, seemingly wanting to break through the sky. It is unclear where the mist enveloping the characters comes from, adding a vague sense of mystery, further enhancing the dazzling golden hues within. The disciples of the Demon Mountain Sect come and go, bustling with activity. Some are running errands, some are trading goods, others are arguing loudly in the streets, while a few are enjoying drinks and tea in the small shops by the roadside, engaging in lively conversation, presenting a scene of prosperity.
For some reason, the ostentatious entrance of the sect gave A Fei a sense of security. A wealthy and powerful sect is certainly much better than a small sect with meager resources. However, when he finally managed to push through the crowd and found the reception person at the Longqiang Sect's mountain peak, the good impression he had just formed was completely dispelled.
How did you know it was me?" Ah Fei couldn't help but ask
A Fei was silent, and it was only then that he realized that his identity had long been exposed in the eyes of these seasoned figures of the martial world. It was lamentable that he still thought he was concealing it thoroughly, unaware that the perceptive individuals in the game had already seen through it, and even the disciples of Mount Hua had followed suit.
The Golden Ring Blade patted A Fei on the shoulder and said, "Don't be in a daze. We will accompany you for a while, but from here on, you will have to rely on yourself. Alright, we also have tasks to attend to, so we must part ways here"
The school uniform is essentially just a novice outfit in a different color, transformed into a dull, earthy yellow reminiscent of excrement, with the words "Magic Mountain" emblazoned across the chest, striking and eye-catching. The spear is even more rudimentary, featuring a sharp iron tip embedded in a wooden pole, which can be considered a weapon. Its attack power is slightly higher than that of A Fei's novice sword. As for the basic spear technique and basic internal skill, they are two manuals; as soon as A Fei touched them, the system prompted whether to learn them, and without hesitation, he slapped his hand down.
There is another major issue that has been troubling A Fei. This is the rapid consumption of internal energy when using the - diagram - book. While defeating two monsters at once brings him joy, it also doubles the energy expenditure. Typically, with his full basic internal energy, he finds himself depleted after three instances of the light-splitting shadow technique, leaving him to rest for a while until his energy replenishes. During this rest, he can still engage without using internal energy, merely relying on his weapon to thrust repeatedly. However, this method requires dozens of thrusts to take down a small wild boar. If he employs the basic spear technique, he only needs three thrusts, highlighting a significant difference.
A Fei finally understands the significance of martial arts in the game; compared to pure weaponry and melee combat, it is akin to a cannon versus a rifle. This illustrates just how greatly a high-level martial art, or even a unique skill, can influence a person's martial prowess.
Feeling a surge of warmth rising within him, A Fei sighed with emotion, realizing that from this moment on, he would be a person of the martial world. Although the Long Gun Sect had not provided him with any other benefits, this was nonetheless the first martial art he had learned. As the saying goes, with martial skills in hand, the world is mine. He was entirely focused on the effect of the basic spear technique combined with the illusion of light and shadow, and without a second thought, he rushed towards the monster zone, eager to experience the taste of martial arts.
After a long while, A Fei, panting heavily, stood in front of the gate of the Mo Shan Sect, finally feeling a slight sense of relief
A Fei was greatly surprised. When he arrived, he had not paid attention to his surroundings, let alone noticed other players. Moreover, he wanted to experience martial arts skills for himself, so he deliberately wandered around and found a small hill. However, after practicing for half a day, it was indeed strange that no other players came by. Wasn't it said that there were millions of players in the game? Even if it were just a fraction of the Mo Shan Sect, there should be at least tens of thousands, so how could he not encounter a single living person?