âEh, these pairingsâ¦â¦â
Wan Er crossed her arms in front of her chest, lazily leaned against the window and smiled, saying, âI honestly donât have the heart to kill that Buddhist Monk Goodbye Tears. I heard he was one of [Vanguard]âs Big Threeâ¦â¦â
(Editor Note: Buddhist Monk is used in a mocking way and literally means Bald Donkey)
I nodded, âIt wasnât easy for him to enter the top 128, so do show him some mercyâ¦â¦â
Yue Qing Qian said, âBrother Xiao Yao, your opponent isnât that weak either. Jian Tan is one of [Heroâs Mound]âs top sword experts. I heard that heâs mastered controlling the flow of the battleâ¦â¦â
âJian Tanâ¦â¦â
I looked up at the big screen and said, âIâve met this person before in real life. Heâs a very honorable man, but relies too much on brute force and doesnât understand the importance of flexibility. Such an opponent wonât be hard to deal with.â
âHow do you plan on fighting him?â Dong Cheng Yue asked with a smile.
I thought for a moment before replying. âFirst, Iâll lower his guard by showing him a bit of weakness. Then Iâll use my [Binding Chains] to disable him. I should be able to make it out alive; my 6500 health gives me a high chance of surviving so thereâs no need to fight so hard.â
âYup.â Wan Er said, âQing Qian, your opponent is Tornado, Ba Huang Cityâs second strongest Mage. Heâs also pretty hard to deal with, so you should be careful. The first attack is most important, since you need bring down his [Mana Shield]âs durability to at least 50%. After that, you need to find the opportunity to insta-kill him, while staying alive yourself. [Sneak] and [Hide] must be used.â
Yue Qing Qian chuckled, âDonât worry, sister Cang Tong. I can deal with this!â
âOk, thatâs good then. Everyone, letâs get into the top 64!â
â¦â¦
âShua!â
I was teleported to a giant martial arts arena. Jian Tan stood there with an imposing aura like an immovable mountain. Arms crossed with his sword against his chest, he was clad in a bright suit of armor with his battle robes flowing in the wind. It was exactly this stern uncle who had guarded the doors of [Heroâs Mound], allowing Q-Sword to command [Heroâs Mound]âs legion of players without any worries.
âLittle Xiao Yao, we meet again!â Jian Tan smiled, âI didnât think I would meet you in the top 128. Even though I know I may not have even a 30% chance of winning against you, I wonât give up. Youâd better not underestimate me; I can kill you easily if you let down your guard, and that wouldnât be any funâ¦â¦â
I smoothed out my expression and chuckled, âNo problem. I wonât underestimate you. Uncle Jian Tan also doesnât need to hold back; letâs fight with everything weâve got! I also want to learn exactly what the fighting strength of an elder from [Heroâs Mound] is like. Letâs see if itâs really as formidable as the legends sayâ¦â
Jian Tan unsheathed his sharp sword. With a wave of his blade, he indifferently said, âPrepare to battle!â
â3!â
â2!â
â1!â
Battle start! This was the battle that decided the top 64; victory was the only option!
But before I could get on the offensive, Jian Tan attacked first - just as I expected. Lowering the tip of his sword, he activated [Haste] and rushed over, sticking close to the ground. Suddenly, he roared and his longsword became a streak of light, aimed right at me!
I shifted my stance and unsheathed my Emperor Qinâs Sword in order to withstand the violent attack. Before I could shake off his sword, Jian Tan unexpectedly withdrew. Suddenly, his left leg swept out with a fierce power. With a âKengâ, I blocked the incoming strike with my leg, and slid backward several meters from the force of the attack. The tip of my sword cut into the ground as I slid.
âLi Xiao Yao, why arenât you retaliating?â
Jian Tan fiercely slashed his sword forward again, forcing me to further retreat a few more steps. His face was full of rage, âAre you looking down on me? Is that why you wonât fight? Alright then, I wonât let you have the chance to retaliate. You will taste the bitterness of defeat here!â
As he was talking, Jian Tan raised his longsword again, and finally activated a skill. [Skyshaker Slash]!
I raised my arm and blocked his attack!
Bang!
1729!
What an intense strike! However, it wasnât over; Jian Tan lowered his body again and activated [Blade Rush]. His entire body was bathed in light as he sped forward 5 meters, his sword piercing my body!
987!
Unfortunately for him, my defense remained sturdy, and as before, it protected me from most of the damage dealt. I felt a chill from behind as my heart dropped. This feeling was too familiar: it was a [Combo]! To think that Jian Tan also had a [Combo]. As expected, he really did live up to his reputation as an expert!
I quickly turned around and raised my Emperor Qin Sword in front of my chest, supporting the swordâs blade with my left hand. At the same time, I used a [Heal] to raise my health by another 1200! However, Jian Tanâs pet flew right at me as well. I summoned my Flaming Tiger God, and it quickly attacked with a [Flame Claw]. The little tiger instantly tackled the giant wolf and they both began fighting each other.
âHa! [Combo]!â
Jian Tan roared again as air began to gather around his feet. An A-ranked [Combo] began to activate, dealing three consecutive attacks. âPa Pa Paâ it penetrated my defense. Three more attacks came, one after another, adding up to a total of 6 strikes! I only felt pain coursing through my body. Motherf*cker! Jian Tanâs power and angle of attack can truly be considered first rate!
427!
414!
478!
521!
525!
740!
After he instantly inflicted 3100+ damage on me, he finally stopped attacking. He had already exhausted his best possible moves in order to burst me down, but I still had 2500 health remaining!
After downing a Lv 10 potion to recover 5500 health, I spread my palm, and with a âPaâ sound, slammed it into Jian Tanâs chest. He froze for a moment, before iron chains broke through the stones underneath his feet, instantly immobilizing him. At the same time, I shouted, â[Strength of a Thousand Men]!â
The concentrated attacks surged forth, bombarding Jian Tanâs chest without any obstruction. Damage numbers burst forth one after anotherââ
1127!
1231!
1312!
1234!
2236!
The final [Wind Blade] attack had practically sliced Jian Tanâs body in half. He abruptly fell to his knees, and stared at me, his eyes wide open?. He hadnât imagined that heâd be insta-killed by a single [Combo].
After getting rid of Jian Tanâs pet as well, I received a notice:
System Notification: Congratulations, you have defeated Player ãJian Tanã, and have successfully advanced to the next round of the tournament!â
â¦â¦
âShua!â
I was delivered back to the waiting room. There, I discovered that only the previously eliminated players like Matcha, Dancing Forest, and Dong Cheng Lei were present. I was the first victor!
Dancing Forest said, âGuild Master, congratulations on your win!â
I nodded, âBut of course, winning is one of my many talents!ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
I hastily looked up to check how the battles were progressing, only to notice that General Li Mu was using the combo [Absolute Authority] to overpower his opponent. Wang Jian and Wolf all came out victorious as well. Yue Qing Qian was still in the midst of battle, as Tornado was casting one [Pillar of Fire and Ice] after another, taking control of Yue Qing Qianâs possible attack routes. Our beautiful Vice Guild Master tried to break through the magic many times, she could only continue to dodge, narrowly escaping instant death!
âItâs almost timeâ¦â Yue Wei Liang clasped her hands tightly together as she anxiously watched the screen.
âTime for what?â I asked.
Yue Wei Liang pursed her red lips, â[Absolute Step]âs cooldown. Once it ends, itâll be time for Sisterâs next attack, and Tornado will be kicked outâ¦â¦â
I stared at the screen. Tornadoâs [Mana Shield] still had 7% durability left. With Yue Qing Qianâs perfect control, it wouldnât be surprising for a normal attack to be able to break the shield. As long as her attack went smoothly, Tornado would be pretty much finished!
âShua!â
The power of the wind gathered around her small feet, [Absolute Step]!
Yue Qing Qian quickly rushed forward. With her extreme speed, she weaved in a series of zig-zags to dodge the [Indigo Sea Arrow] and [Pillar of Fire & Ice] that were aimed at her. Her dagger suddenly flashed, directly striking her target!
âBang!â
Aside from the shield being broken, her target had received 700+ damage.
Yue Qing Qianâs beautiful eyes flashed, and she drifted behind her opponent. Raising both her arms, she cast [Twin Blade Harmony]. This was an extremely smart move; a strike towards oneâs back could never be blocked. Moreover, the back is considered a weak point.
3047!
After that single attack, Tornado cried out miserably as he fell to his knees. Yue Qing Qianâs explosive power was indeed abnormally strong!
âBeautiful!â
One Second Hero gave her a thumbs up as he laughed, âToo graceful. Thatâs exactly how an Assassin should attack a Mage. That was really an educational battleâ¦â
Dong Cheng Yue shot a glance at him and smiled, âEven if you praise her like that, Gua Gua still wonât love you. The one she loves is Brother Xiao Yaoâ¦â
One Second Heroâs body shook, âI donât want her love. Actually⦠the person I like is Darling Duck⦠F*ck, that was too bluntâ¦â
Dong Cheng Yue grumbled, âIdiotâ¦â
Yue Qing Qian walked over with her dagger in hand and asked, âSister Dong Cheng, why do you call me Gua Gua?â
âBecause you like eating cucumbers⦠and Gua Gua sounds nice. Itâs both intimate and easy to sayâ¦â
(Note: Cucumber in Chinese is âHuang Guaâ, so the âGua Guaâ is taken from the last part of cucumber.)
Yue Qing Qian responded, âThatâ¦â
â¦â¦
The only fight that had not ended was the battle between Wan Er and Goodbye Tears. Goodbye Tears stood in the arena with his staff in hand, but he was unable to detect any trace of Wan Er within the arena. He could only wait for the cooldown of his potions to end. At the same time, he firmly planted his feet into the ground and loudly yelled out, â[Golden Defense]! [Diamond Body]! Ha, Cang Tong, hurry up and get out here. I challenge you! Since I need to enter the top 64, thereâs no way Iâll ever retreat. Itâs time for you to display your real skills!â
âShua!â
A blood red light flew towards Goodbye Tearsâ back. The ambush had succeeded, and temporarily stunned him!
Wan Er didnât hesitate at all. Her twin daggers danced in the air. âPa pa paâ, she cut the opposing partyâs health by nearly 2000 points. The instant the stun effect had subsided, Wan Er swung her hands in an arc in front of Goodbye Tears, beautifully stabbing him. Goodbye Tears was stunned once more, and the dagger glowed. After a piercing attack, Wan Er flashed behind her opponent, and suddenly backstabbed Goodbye Tears. She raised her snow-white arms, [Twin Blade Harmony]!
2916!
The instant the attack burst out, Goodbye Tears fell to his knees. Even Monks with 2400+ defense and 7000+ health wouldnât be able to escape Wan Erâs deadly pursuit.
âPlopâ¦â
Goodbye Tears was unable to stand, and was forced to stay kneeling. He gazed at Wan Er and said, âItâs as I said before, this is Cang Tongâs true skill. Iâm sincerely convinced of your strength, and Iâm ready to concede. Could you possibly give me your phone number?â
Wan Er indifferently looked at him and recited a phone number. With that, Goodbye Tears cheerfully died.
â¦â¦
Outside, Old K shuddered. He raised his battleaxe and said with a discontented expression, âWhy⦠why was my phone number given away again?â
Wan Er appeared back within the room, and she giggled, âI won! Iâve entered the top 64! If I win one more round tomorrow, then I can be part of the top 32! This is greatâ¦really greatâ¦â
Old K said, âGreat my ass⦠why my phone numberâ¦â