Chapter 14

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Seeing him obediently swallow the pill, the others breathed a collective sigh of relief, then turned back toward the BOSS.

This was the first time Ye Xiyin had seen players use qinggong so directly.

The various schools in Sword Trial did not all employ the same unchanging form of qinggong. Each style was designed around the school’s weapon and distinctive image.

The Release Sect, for instance, moved with broad, forceful gestures. The Star Luo Sect carried itself with graceful elegance. Since the Heart-Seeking Alliance used umbrellas as weapons, its qinggong often involved traveling upon them.

As for Clear Clouds, Autumn Moon, a member of the Hidden Guard, her movements were nimble and agile, like a black cat prowling through the night.

The Crane Resting Court was different from the others once again. Its movements resembled those of a solitary, unrestrained crane—elegant and carefree.

Ye Xiyin watched with envy and quietly used the system’s recording function to capture it all, intending to study the footage carefully once he returned.

It would be even better if he could use qinggong himself one day.

After all, who had never dreamed of becoming a martial hero?

As the five drew closer, the stronghold in the distance finally stirred. A towering, heavily muscled man strode out from within. To emphasize the oppressive presence of the leader monster, the BOSS was at least twice the size of an ordinary player. With every step he took, the ground around him seemed to tremble.

Yet before the man’s face could be seen, a meteor hammer nearly the size of a human head came hurtling out first. It struck one of the wooden posts, instantly sending splinters flying. As the background music shifted sharply into an urgent, accelerating rhythm, the BOSS finally appeared before them.

[Sky-Severing Dragon, Long Xing]

Long Xing revealed a rather formulaic, bloodthirsty smile and spat to the side.

“A bunch of useless trash. You can’t even deal with a few underlings.”

After that opening line, battle erupted.

The five were long accustomed to BOSSes talking tough, and naturally would not let a few threats disrupt their concentration. Zi Buyu first applied the Release Sect’s buffs and charged forward. The Star Luo Sect’s Resolute Will used chess pieces as weapons to impose control, while Xu Ziche restored everyone’s health. Clear Clouds, Autumn Moon, and the Crane Resting Court focused on dealing damage.

With such a sequence, the BOSS’s first health bar rapidly declined.

The fluid movements, combined with the system’s special effects, were scarcely different from a grand martial-arts film. Ye Xiyin watched with relish. It was just a pity he had not bought any sunflower seeds at the inn the day before; otherwise, he could have shelled them while enjoying the show.

With nothing better to do, Ye Xiyin resumed his earlier amusement: predicting where the BOSS’s attacks would land.

It was not difficult—not for him, at least.

The system would never have players beaten senseless by a BOSS like headless flies, nor would it let them simply brute-force their way through a battle.

Even the dazzling attack patterns followed discernible rules. Most players could probably work them out after facing the BOSS several times. Ye Xiyin could calculate them even faster.

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Whenever the BOSS attacked exactly as he had predicted, Ye Xiyin felt an immense sense of accomplishment.

The people actually engaged in the battle, however, were nowhere near as relaxed.

After the first phase ended, Long Xing’s attack power, range, and patterns gradually became more unpredictable, and the five finally began to feel a genuine sense of danger.

After narrowly dodging another meteor hammer flying straight at her, Clear Clouds, Autumn Moon snapped irritably, “What the hell? Did it take stimulants? It’s chasing people down and smashing at them like a rabid dog.”

She had been clipped by it moments earlier, and half her health bar had vanished instantly. Even though Xu Ziche had promptly healed her back up, it had still been troublesome.

Being hit was one thing. Taking damage was manageable. But if she fell into the shallow water and suffered continuous damage, that would be another matter entirely.

If anyone died by accident, the party would wipe and the dungeon would be over.

In the past, dying once would have been no more than an inconvenience; they could simply run the mission again.

What player cleared a dungeon successfully on the first attempt every time?

Clear Clouds, Autumn Moon and the others had certainly experienced their share of foolish wipes.

But things were different now. They still had Ye Xiyin to protect, so they had to remain focused to the fullest.

She leaped lightly over yet another incoming meteor hammer and switched her weapon to a crossbow. While still in midair, she fired an arrow at the BOSS, only for that erratic weapon to veer toward her face once more.

The enormous hammer came crashing straight at her with terrifying force. Worse, the sudden disruption to her attack rhythm left her mind in disarray.

“The third pillar!”

A familiar voice rang in her ears. With no time to think, Clear Clouds, Autumn Moon chose to trust its owner. Clutching her crossbow, she leaped toward the third pillar—the nearest one to her.

Just as expected, the meteor hammer grazed past her body, and she escaped the attack unharmed.

After that first warning, the second and third followed in quick succession. The five reacted swiftly, and with Ye Xiyin’s guidance, their attacks became increasingly effortless.

Each time, his warning led them to the optimal position for dealing damage.

Their attack frequency rose sharply. Once top-tier players found the perfect position to strike, the BOSS was simply incapable of withstanding them.

At last, the Crane Resting Court unleashed his most powerful skill. As it slammed into the BOSS, Long Xing collapsed to the ground with an unwilling roar.

[System: Congratulations to young heroes Crane Resting Court, Clear Clouds, Autumn Moon, Zi Buyu, and the others on becoming the first party to clear the Bandit Suppression at Wild Goose Cry Shoals mission.]

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The rewards for being first to clear the mission were exceptionally generous. Amid the clattering of coins, all kinds of chests burst forth at once.

Clear Clouds, Autumn Moon was still thinking about having Ye Xiyin open her chests for her. She swept all the dropped boxes into her arms and hurried toward him.

“Little Koi, hurry and help—”

The smile on her face froze. She stared in shock at what lay behind him.

Even the Crane Resting Court’s usually composed expression cracked. He immediately launched himself toward Ye Xiyin with qinggong.

Sensing that something was wrong, Ye Xiyin instinctively turned around.

But it was already too late. Several men in black were rushing toward him, their momentum fierce and menacing. They looked extraordinarily dangerous.

There seemed to be nowhere safe to dodge. Ye Xiyin made an instant decision and activated a defensive item.

The moment the item appeared, the five attackers paused briefly, then surged toward Ye Xiyin.

At the same time, the Crane Resting Court had already arrived on his sword.

Returning Cloud Piercing the Firmament tore through the air and shot toward the five men opposite them. The sword’s keen edge forced the men to move in unison, but it did not stop them. Instead, they charged at Ye Xiyin with even greater frenzy.

At the critical moment, a chessboard-shaped effect appeared beneath their feet, briefly binding all five in place. Xu Ziche first applied several layers of healing effects to Ye Xiyin, then switched to the Poison Scripture and joined the fight against the attackers.

The men in black were only of middling strength. Against five grandmaster-level experts, they quickly fell into a disadvantage.

Realizing that if they lingered any longer they would not only fail to take Ye Xiyin, but would also lose their own lives, the five suddenly flung a handful of powder toward him before retreating at high speed.

How could Clear Clouds, Autumn Moon let them escape? As the most agile among them, she was the first to give chase.

The Crane Resting Court, meanwhile, turned and came to Ye Xiyin’s side.

“Are you all right?”

They had also been touched by some of the powder just now, yet none of them had experienced any unusual symptoms. Ye Xiyin was different, however, and the Crane Resting Court still could not put his mind at ease.

“It seems nothing happened. Fortunately, you arrived in time.” Ye Xiyin examined himself and spoke only after confirming that he was safe.

“Are you really all right?” Xu Ziche asked with a frown. As someone skilled in both medicine and poison, he was always wary of powders of unknown origin.

“I think so. The Heavenly Origin Pill didn’t react either. It’s just that I feel… a little… cold…”

Ye Xiyin’s voice grew softer and softer. Then he pitched forward and collapsed into the Crane Resting Court’s arms.

At the same time, his previously steady health bar suddenly began to dance wildly.

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