Chapter 50: The Moon Rises Over Tianshan

It's only when you need to use knowledge that you realize how little you have.

Chen Huaian felt his vocabulary was severely lacking and could only try his best to hold back.

As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere in Qingyun Sect's plaza instantly turned tense.

Qingxuan Daoist remained silent, only drawing his Qingxuan Sword.

The aura of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator surged like a tidal wave, and spiritual energy rippled around him. His hat fell to the ground, and his robes and hair danced wildly in the invisible aura.

"Elder Qingxuan, let's talk this out calmly!" Wu Duantian was the last person who wanted to see two cultivators fight. This was Qingyun Sect, and if things got destroyed, he'd be the one suffering. Besides, he was still waiting for the mysterious cultivator to help Zhao Lingtian restore his dantian. If they ended up making enemies, all his plans would be ruined!

"Lu Changtian is my first disciple. How can I sit back and watch his dantian be crippled?" Qingxuan Daoist's voice was firm as he transmitted his words to Wu Duantian: "He's definitely not at the Unity Realm. Judging by his relationship with Li Qingran, even if they're not officially master and disciple, there's still a master-disciple bond. If he were truly a Unity Realm cultivator, would he need to go through all these twists and turns?"

Qingxuan Daoist's tone was resolute, determined to protect Lu Changtian at all costs.

Wu Duantian sighed.

How could he not understand Qingxuan Daoist's reasoning? Everyone could see it clearly.

The other party was clearly wary of Qingyun Sect's strength and wouldn't act rashly.

But Wu Duantian didn't care about any of that. The other party's cultivation level didn't matter to him.

All he cared about was whether they could help Zhao Lingtian restore his dantian.

"Can't we just sit down and talk this out?"

"There's nothing to discuss." Qingxuan Daoist's face remained cold as he spoke aloud.

"Fine, fine, let's fight then!" Wu Duantian, unable to persuade him, simply gave up. "Let the mountain gates be shattered, let the ancestors emerge from seclusion. Let the entire Cangyun Realm, both righteous and demonic factions, laugh at Qingyun Sect!"

"Good. Let's see if you have the right to interfere in today's matter!"

The void behind Li Qingran twisted, and a furious snort echoed from within.

A pressure more terrifying than Qingxuan Daoist's descended upon everyone.

A figure gradually materialized in the void.

Dressed in black robes with white hair, he held a black-scaled longsword. His face was obscured by a divine glow, but his golden vertical pupils exuded an imposing aura. Just meeting his gaze was enough to make one's heart tremble.

He hovered behind Li Qingran.

As his body fully solidified—

Roar—!

A thunderclap flashed in the sky.

A black dragon's phantom emerged from behind him, coiling around his body, its claws bared and its presence awe-inspiring. It eventually merged partially with the black-scaled sword, as if becoming the sword's soul.

"S-Senior!" Li Qingran's eyes were fixed on Chen Huaian, who now stood in front of her. Even though she could only see his profile, she forgot to breathe, her face growing hotter and her mind blank.

"Step back, girl. I… ahem, this venerable one is about to start… ahem, killing!"

Li Qingran was nervous, and so was Chen Huaian.

His vision was filled with a dazzling array of skill icons on the right, and he had no idea what any of them did. There was no time to figure it out—he was already being forced into action. On top of that, he was wearing a VR helmet, which added to the immersive sense of urgency.

He didn't dare look at Li Qingran.

He had just glanced at her once, and she was breathtakingly beautiful.

The difference between VR and non-VR was like night and day. He was afraid he'd end up staring at her.

So now the question was: how should he proceed?

Click wherever it lights up? But everything's lit up!

[Beginner combat tutorial starting now.]

A game window appeared in Chen Huaian's vision, and he was overjoyed.

"Perfect, it's a noob tutorial! We're saved!"

The next second, everything around him froze.

Chen Huaian knew he had entered the tutorial and immediately turned to stare at Li Qingran.

This was desensitization training.

[This game uses the latest brain neural mapping technology. Players can directly control their characters' actions through thought.]

A mirror-like ripple and a wooden dummy appeared before him.

Chen Huaian reluctantly tore his gaze away from Li Qingran's face and tried making a peace sign at the mirror.

A Nascent Soul Perfection cultivator exuding an immortal aura making such a gesture was incredibly jarring. He quickly returned to his dignified, otherworldly demeanor. Once in character, he couldn't help but start showing off.

[This game will map the techniques, mental cultivation methods, and their corresponding effects directly into your mind. Rest assured, this will not burden your brain. As the mappings increase, they will gradually become part of your memory.]

[Please attack the dummy in front of you.]

Chen Huaian thought for a moment, then swung his sword at the dummy, which shattered instantly.

There was no feedback from the strike—it felt like cutting tofu, light and effortless.

[Please use a technique skill.]

The dummy regenerated, and after a moment's thought, Chen Huaian used the first move of Qinglian Sword Codex—Long Wind Breaks the Waves.

Hum—!

With a sword hum, Chen Huaian moved with the sword, his strike as swift as a dragon.

All he saw was a flash of bright sword light, and the dummy was already in pieces. The next second, he was back in his original position, and a watery afterimage remained near the dummy, frozen in the stance of his thrust.

The second stage of Long Wind Breaks the Waves was still lit up.

—Shadow Kill: Teleport back to the afterimage's position and thrust again.

"Holy crap, that's awesome!" Chen Huaian wasn't well-educated, but he knew how to appreciate greatness.

Who would've thought the first move of Qinglian Sword Codex would be so bizarre?

He definitely had to master it and teach it to Li Qingran.

[Tutorial complete. Enjoy the game!]

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The frozen surroundings came back to life.

Chen Huaian's gaze locked onto Lu Changtian and Qingxuan Daoist in the distance. The confusion in his eyes was now replaced with confidence.

Qingxuan Daoist, huh…

Likes to interfere, huh…

Chen Huaian sneered. For stubborn old fools like this, it was best to go straight for the ultimate move.

The tenth move of Qinglian Sword Codex flashed in his mind—The Moon Rises Over Tianshan.

The eleventh and twelfth moves were locked, and even at Nascent Soul Perfection, he couldn't use them.

Otherwise, he'd have planted the Milky Way right on Qingxuan Daoist's face today.

The black-scaled sword was half-drawn, its light like dust.

The rampant sword intent leaking from the sheath made the surrounding air creak as if being sliced.

Old dog Qingxuan, want to protect your disciple?

Chen Huaian's eyes flashed with determination.

Then, take this venerable one's sword!

Hum—!

The sword hummed like thunder.

Above Qingyun Sect, in front of the grand hall.

A sliver of moonlight rose from the ground.

…

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