Chapter 108: The Seventh Layer

As soon as Lei Zhan returned to the ancient tomb hall, he heard a hoarse, high-pitched sound resembling the howling wind by his ears—“Whoosh… whoosh… whoosh…” The sound was incredibly inspiring, calm, yet gave a sense of unity, with each blast following swiftly and precisely.

Looking up, Lei Zhan was stunned! He saw Kaixin fighting alone against the stone giant… Still dressed in his unremarkable hunter-like attire, wielding the seemingly ordinary “Battle-Tested Sword,” yet after just half a day, a faint blue halo appeared around the sword.

A halo! Others might not notice it, but Lei Zhan, who had been diligently practicing the advanced martial art “Wuji Sword Technique” these days, knew exactly what it meant—this was a sign of entering the seventh layer!

Any advanced martial art, starting from level 1, would exhibit signs distinct from lower-level arts: sword techniques would show blade light, blade glow, and blade halo—progressing from mild to intense.

The first three layers could only be reflected in the weapon, making it shinier, more vibrant, and more intimidating. From the fourth to the sixth layer, faint blade glows would appear on the weapon, further enhancing the attack range and lethality of the martial art.

Starting from the seventh layer up to the ninth, not only would there be stronger blade glows, but halos would also appear with each move, growing in intensity. These halos could not only disrupt the enemy’s vision but also effectively conceal the path of attacks.

Lei Zhan remembered being extremely excited when he reached the seventh layer of the “Wuji Sword Technique,” as it was the result of over a week of hard work. But to his surprise, Kaixin had raised “Flower Hero’s Song” to the seventh layer in just three days, which shocked him and filled him with frustration.

For a while, he stood not far away, observing quietly.

As time passed… Lei Zhan gradually figured things out, frowning slightly, occasionally showing expressions of contemplation and realization.

It was clear that Kaixin had identified a pattern in the stone giant’s attacks and used that mechanical pattern to improve his evasion skills. This not only saved time for rest and recovery but also allowed his attack frequency to become astonishingly high—many times that of Lei Zhan’s. No wonder his martial art had advanced so quickly (martial art levels were determined by the number of effective attacks and defenses).

After “Flower Hero’s Song” reached the seventh layer, its lethality soared. A few minutes later, Kaixin defeated the stone giant before him and noticed Lei Zhan approaching from afar.

“Brother Lei, is it done?”
“Mm.”
Lei Zhan walked over with a clicking sound, glanced at the remains of the stone giant, gave a bitter smile, and punched Happy on the shoulder: “Good kid, you’ve risen to a new level in just half a day. It’s unbearable!”
Happy smiled calmly and rubbed his shoulder.
“Following you these days, I’ve seen a lot and figured out the stone giant’s tactics. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have now.”
“Stop flattery. Don’t try to put me on a pedestal.”
Lei Zhan rolled his eyes: “I’ve been leveling up with those friends for a long time, and none of us could figure out any patterns. Are you trying to belittle me on purpose?”
Happy explained with a smile.
“That’s different. The stone giant targets those closest to it, so its movements are more complex. How about you watch from the side?”
“Okay.”
Lei Zhan’s expression turned serious as he nodded.
……
Xuzhou City.
At the main hall of Zi Yang Gate, hundreds of players gathered with stern expressions, armed with swords, knives, bows, and arrows, their murderous intent palpable as they all stared toward the main gate.
Gui Xuan, who had appeared in the ancient tomb, stood solemnly to the left of a dignified middle-aged man, holding a metal whip that exuded a chilling aura!
To the right of the middle-aged man was Xiao Bai Long, whose face was less frivolous and more solemn and serious. Since his resurrection, he had put away his paper fan early and tightly grasped a red bronze spear, his gaze fixed intently on the outside.
Zi Yang Gate’s highly alert stance wasn’t unfounded!
In fact, that jade pendant originally belonged to a player at the Creation Realm from Xianhu Village, who obtained it after killing hundreds of foxes.
At first, Zi Yang Gate didn’t pay much attention, but later they learned through a source that after that player from Xianhu Village died, he went to the capital and joined a powerful sect—Ji Deming Tang.
Recently, many sects in the capital have been active in the south, including Ji Deming Tang, notorious for its assassinations and hidden weapons.
Ji Deming Tang…
It already has hundreds of experts at the Creation Realm, with dozens more skilled in advanced martial arts. In recent times, they have robbed countless caravans, and it is said their main hall’s storage is already filled to the brim.
Although Zi Yang Gate holds the strength and prestige of the top sect in Xuzhou City, it pales in comparison to Ji Deming Tang. Fighting them is like throwing eggs at a rock.

Yesterday, the leader of the Deathful Hall sent a message via carrier pigeon, expressing in stern terms that the Ziyang Sect must return the Jade Jewel within two days; otherwise, the Deathful Hall would invade Yangzhou in force and destroy their headquarters. In the martial world, although the government is responsible for urban security, it dare not interfere in gang-related killings, choosing to turn a blind eye. Thus, any killings that occur near gang headquarters go unaddressed. That’s why the Ziyang Sect has mobilized everyone to mount such a strong defense against the Deathful Hall’s attack when the deadline arrives! “Father!” Having died once, Little White Dragon had completely lost his former arrogance and self-importance. Especially after the threat from the Deathful Hall, he deeply realized the weakness of the Ziyang Sect and, filled with concern, couldn’t help but suggest to its leader, “Since the Jade Jewel isn’t in our hands anymore, why not inform the Deathful Hall… let them fight among themselves?” Hearing this, Gui Xuan also showed signs of agreement and attention. The Deathful Hall was extremely powerful—spies reported that many of their members had arrived in the city and were quickly gathering here, clearly indicating the worst might happen. Gui Xuan knew well that if a war broke out, all the effort the Ziyang Sect had put in over the past month and the foundation they had built would be ruined, something he certainly didn’t want to see! “…” The Ziyang Sect’s leader remained expressionless, as if unaware, staring straight ahead in silence. A few moments later, the entrance was crowded with hundreds of players in armor, with the leading few wearing the gold-edged “Bloodstained Blades” gang emblem on their chests. Their fierce expressions and imposing aura showed their battle-ready determination as they glared darkly at the plaque above the Ziyang Sect’s main gate.