Chapter 681: The Eighth Sword

At the foot of Mount Tai, outside a small city in Shandong, there was a martial temple.
A few players of lower ranks sat outside the temple, their faces sickly pale and grim.
“This is bad.”
“For the next month, our abilities will be reduced by 20%, and our progress in training and leveling will slow down. It seems we’ll have to go to lower-tier areas to fight bandits.”
“Boss, didn’t you say your ambition was to become the greatest martial artist in the world?”
One of them teased the man who was gritting his teeth. “I heard that the two most powerful martial artists in the world are fighting each other on Mount Tai right now. Even when they were in our situation, they never died.”
“Shut up!”
The man glared at him disdainfully. “Hmph! What do you know? Do you know the old saying: To achieve great things, one must first endure hardship and toil. This is our chance. Over the next month, everyone should work hard to earn money so we can get some top-tier weapons. Then at least we’ll be considered second-rate martial artists!”
“…Top-tier weapons cost a lot. Besides, who doesn’t already have a famous weapon? Calling ourselves second-rate martial artists? I think no amount of effort will make us stand out. Little Hole, remember? Even though you won the rock-paper-scissors game last time and became our boss for a month, if we don’t succeed by then, it’ll be my turn.” Another man said jokingly.
“Go to hell! With me around, I’ll stick you all to the wall in just one month. I’ll make sure you live in luxury. Maybe I’ll even knock Happy and Emperor Down…”
“Haha, just you…”
The group of dispirited youths joked around.
Just then, the doors of the martial temple creaked open, catching their attention.
“Haha, who’s so unlucky as to come and keep us company at a time like this?” Little Hole seemed in high spirits, still able to find humor even after dying in the game once.
The ones walking out of the temple were Happy and Emperor Down. After meditating inside, they had recovered significantly. Their faces no longer showed the weakness and paleness of death; instead, they looked energetic as they stepped down the stairs. Little Hole and the others widened their eyes and mouths, pointing at them, unable to speak for a moment.
“I owe you two favors this time. How can I repay you?”

The two walking side by side—one dressed in an elegantly ornate black-trimmed robe, with a cold and heroic face yet bearing a faintly relaxed smile—created a strikingly harmonious image, yet exuded an invisible sense of authority.
“One… the Emperor…”
The few people in the small group instinctively retreated to a corner, trying to get some distance to observe this top-ranked expert on the Dragon Ranking. The legendary master whom he had just vowed to bring down was breathing heavily.
The others were also terrified, staring intently at the man beside the Emperor— clad in golden armor covered in countless sword marks, with a prominent sword hole in his chest. They had seen his face countless times on REP.
He was the widely renowned greatest expert in the world, consistently ranking first on the Masters List, and the second head of the largest faction, the Mu Family—Happy.
How could these two… have come out of the Temple of Martial Arts?
The minds of the crowd were stuck in confusion.
They stared foolishly as the two slowly walked down the steps, unable to understand how two rivals who should have fought to the death atop Mount Tai could get along so amicably, chatting and laughing like old friends.
“I also need to thank you for your gift. It’s something from the top of the Divine Weapons List—the Seven Swords. Heh, just the seventh sword of the Deadly Thirteen Swords is already so formidable, terrifying even gods and demons. If I get the chance, I want to learn from you the eighth sword and the ones that follow.”
Happy laughed heartily.
Just moments ago, the two had chatted in the Temple of Martial Arts. Not only did they use the “Blood of the Fire Qilin” to heal their internal injuries, but their internal energy also increased by 20 points.
The two favors the Emperor mentioned were the “Blood of the Fire Qilin” and Happy’s help, which allowed him to regain clarity at the last moment and glimpse the vague outline of the eighth sword beyond the seventh.
Happy was equally proud and excited.
Having fought to a standstill with the Emperor, he considered it a pretty good outcome for himself.
In his past life, no one could match the Emperor…
But in this life, he had reached the Emperor’s level in just one year.
Although the Emperor’s speed also increased due to his own improvement, Happy was already very happy and satisfied…
Others couldn’t understand Happy’s feelings.
At this moment, Happy had completely forgotten the celestial crystal left atop Mount Tai; everything there was forgotten. The Emperor was the same.

“It’s just a vague technique. Right now, I can’t even fully master the seventh sword, let alone the eighth—that will take at least a few months.” After a pause, he added, “But with this 20-point increase in internal energy, things should go more smoothly…”
“That’s good. Let’s have another duel sometime.”
Hearing this, Yi Di immediately laughed:
“Better not. You’ve now reached the Liberation Realm, with greatly enhanced strength! I only have 530 points in internal energy. At this rate, even if I stop trying to master the Deadly Sword Technique and focus on reaching the Liberation Realm, it will take at least half a year. For at least a year, I won’t let you easily turn the odds in your favor, and you shouldn’t expect to beat me that easily.”
“Haha…”
Laughing happily, he naturally knew Yi Di was joking.
Although he had smoothly entered the Liberation Realm, practicing martial arts at this level was more than twice as difficult as at the Life and Death Realm. It would take at least a few months to truly master them.
Moreover, both of them knew that their martial skills didn’t come from advancing in realm levels but from mastering various killing techniques through unique experiences…
Their battles would ultimately end in the same outcome.
At their level, unless one of them encountered some setback and couldn’t improve their strength for a long time, it was hard for anyone to emerge unscathed.
…
Under the breathless gaze of Xiao Kulong and the others, the two slowly left the Martial Temple and headed outside the city!
…
“There’s one thing I can’t help but ask.”
“You want me to join the Mu Family?”
“Well, I think I already know the answer.” Happy smiled bitterly. Someone at Yi Di’s level, as Yin Hu said, wouldn’t be bound by any organization, not even those in a virtual world.
Yi Di smiled faintly before suddenly becoming serious: “Actually, there’s some news you might already be aware of… Soon, there will be significant changes in the martial world.”
“What kind of changes?”
“All sorts of them…”
Yi Di gazed into the distance and sighed deeply. “Some people are drawn in by people like you and me…”
“Hm?” Happy looked puzzled.
Yi Di didn’t explain further, merely saying lightly, “You’ll find out soon. The huge hidden interests in the martial world will make it even more complex and cruel. Be prepared.”
“Cruel?”
Hearing Yi Di’s warning, Happy suddenly felt a sense of confusion for no reason.