Chapter 8: The Secret Sword Art Unlocked
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“Strong Brother, who do you think the current situation favors?” Cold Little Rain asked, sounding a bit too scripted.
She had just shared her analysis of Lin Nan’s true identity in the live streaming room, but to her surprise, the players didn’t seem to care one bit. Their attention was entirely on the betting game—who could possibly want to know the identity of a challenger about to faceplant into defeat?
Cold Little Rain felt a tad frustrated but didn’t want to express her dissatisfaction in front of thousands of viewers. So, to liven things up, she continued to chat energetically with her co-host to prove she was still relevant.
Regardless of how the two challengers fared in the final test, boosting her popularity while time was still of the essence was definitely a win.
With a dog-head hat perched on his head, Strong Brother nodded. “The situation on the field has become pretty clear. The second-level boss is just floating in mid-air. Even if he doesn’t use any skills, he’ll exhaust the two challengers. At their current level, they can’t possibly master flight. So… even if they’re unwilling, they’re just out of options now.”
Cold Little Rain chimed in, “Exactly! The S-level test is eye-opening. Even the top players right now would probably struggle to get past this level.”
“I agree with Little Rain! Let’s see how these two challengers respond. Let’s hope for a miracle!”
On the arena, a flying sword was dragging Fatty about a meter above the ground, wobbling like it had just downed a few too many drinks.
Fatty was clearly giving it all he had, gripping the sword hilt like it was his last hope, while nearby players had instinctively covered their ears—his wails were as melodious as a pig being slaughtered.
“Ugh…”
Lin Nan’s advance was easily sidestepped by Fu Yetian. He was half-knelt, propping himself up with one hand, looking up at the target as beads of sweat streamed down his cheeks.
Anyone could tell Lin Nan was at his breaking point; the boss could probably just sit there, and he’d collapse from sheer exhaustion.
“Quite a promising cultivator. Unfortunately, we are enemies now. Even though I admire you, I can’t go easy on you. That would be disrespectful. After the match, we can share a drink.” Fu Yetian said, with a lordly air.
“Please, I don’t need your respect! I really… can’t hold on much longer…” Fatty cried with desperation.
The force on the flying sword intensified, while Fatty’s grip was slipping—his fingers were just about to let go!
Lin Nan, in a last-ditch effort, took a deep breath and ignored Fu Yetian’s compliments. Just like the last dozen times, he paused for a moment and then leaped back up into the air.
“Useless.”
Fu Yetian sighed as he watched Lin Nan try again, his movements growing noticeably sluggish. He simply lifted a leg, and Lin Nan’s sword missed entirely.
In a stroke of bad luck, Lin Nan’s sword slipped from his grasp and began a downward spiral.
It was game over.
Suddenly, the flying sword wriggled free from Fatty’s hold, zipping through the air like a silver line before diving straight for Lin Nan’s chest.
The live stream zoomed in on the speeding sword.
Strong Brother and Cold Little Rain both looked grave. Although they had anticipated this moment, it was still disheartening to see the two challengers facing defeat with dignity.
Even if the final test got adjusted to A-level difficulty, passing it should be no issue for these two.
What a pity to stop here.
“Quick, stab him!”
“Get rid of that swordsman! That fat guy is no threat!”
“Haha, I’m keeping my stake! Not a big win, but hey, something’s better than nothing.”
“The system is playing tricks; what should have been a quick resolve is dragged on and on.”
As the commenters in the live stream busied themselves, the sword was just about to pierce Lin Nan’s heart. But suddenly— for reasons unknown—the sword stalled mid-air, lacked the power needed, and was effortlessly kicked away by Lin Nan.
Then, out of nowhere, a figure came crashing down from above.
Not Lin Nan, but Fu Yetian, who everyone assumed had victory in the bag.
“Thud…”
The loud impact echoed as he slammed into the arena floor.
Everyone was stunned.
“What just happened?”
“What the heck?”
“Did the boss just have a heart attack?”
“Wait—you see his chest?”
All eyes turned to the incapacitated body of Fu Yetian.
There it was—a long sword protruding from his back, the tip sticking out a couple of inches from his chest.
Where did that sword come from?!
They had just seen Lin Nan’s last attack effortlessly dodged by Fu Yetian, and now he had a sword sticking out of him?!
It left everyone scratching their heads.
Thank goodness for the replay feature.
As it turned out, while everyone was distracted by the rebooted flying sword, Lin Nan had managed to draw his hidden sword from behind just as he fell, using what little strength he had left to throw it back at Fu Yetian, who was completely focused on controlling the flying sword.
Fu Yetian had thought Lin Nan was disarmed and thus no threat, unaware that Lin Nan had hidden Fatty’s sword right behind him waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
And just like that, he’d hit the mark!
【Ding! You have defeated the first-level boss, four Puppet Warriors, and with Fatty’s help, you defeated the second-level boss, Fu Yetian (projection). You gained 12,000 experience points and leveled up from level 15 to level 19!】
【Your Sword Intent has reached level 9, and you have mastered the Lonely Sword Art at level 1!】
【The Lonely Sword Art was created by the “Sword Demon” Dugu Qiubai, winning without techniques, slaying enemies, defeating heroes—leaving none unbeaten in the world!】
【Ding! You and Lin Nan together have defeated the second-level boss, Fu Yetian (projection). You gained 4,000 experience points and leveled up from level 15 to level 17!】
【Your Sword Intent has reached level 6!】
Seeing the system notifications, Lin Nan and Fatty both felt a rush of joy.
Lin Nan was thrilled that his Sword Intent had finally shot up from level 1 to level 9, and he’d finally grasped an impressive sword technique.
You see, the essence of the Lonely Sword Art is “winning without techniques.”
This matched perfectly with his journey in learning the sword.
From initially relying on skills to now instinctively striking down Puppet Warriors, it was a testament to the art’s core principles.
No wonder he could attain such mastery after reaching a high level of Sword Intent.
Fatty was ecstatic as well since he hadn’t contributed during the first level and Lin Nan had done all the work. This time, getting those 4,000 experience points meant the system recognized his pivotal delay tactic in the boss battle.
Sure, Lin Nan got more, but hey, just sticking with him into the third level was already a stroke of luck.
Meanwhile, at a pavilion in the Heavenly Sword Sect, Luo Ying watched with intrigue as Fu Yetian’s projection was pierced by Lin Nan’s sword, collapsing into nothingness.
“Who would’ve thought my senior would be taken down by these two under-the-radar youngsters? If you were here, would you have chuckled and said, ‘These two little brats remind me of my own reckless youth’? Maybe we should celebrate with a proper drink tonight!”
A spicy drink shot straight down her throat, and a flush quickly spread across her cheeks.
In the live stream, player despair echoed loudly.
“For crying out loud! All my savings just went down the drain.”
“These two have the craziest luck! How did they pull this off!”
“AAAAH! I’m losing my mind! My money, my Spirit Coins! System, you owe me!”
“Yesterday, I was rolling in cash; today, I’m dirt poor…”
The players who had bet on “one round without a win” began to revel in the chaos.
“Just lost a few bucks; it’s a gamble with the system. Not winning would’ve been a surprise.”
“Misery loves company; which poor planner designed this betting system? It’s a real money pit!”
Lin Nan and his buddy had managed to clear just two levels, yet they sent nearly 99% of betting players spiraling into despair—talk about a total wipeout.
But this dramatic turn of events had Strong Brother and Cold Little Rain bursting with excitement.
They had thought their hosting careers would fizzle out with the challengers’ defeat, but now they unexpectedly extended their live show thanks to the duo’s shocking triumph over the boss.
“Dear viewers, these two challengers’ steadfast spirit of perseverance until the last moment truly moved us. It reminds us of the original intention behind the development of ‘The Way of Inquiry’,” Strong Brother declared, puffing out his chest.
Cold Little Rain smiled and added, “Yes! ‘The Way of Inquiry’ is not just a virtual reality game; it’s players’ second life. Never give up and always strive for your dreams. I think these two have pretty much embodied the very essence of what ‘The Way of Inquiry’ wants to convey.”
“Therefore, I believe they will go even further!”
“Fly even higher!”
Players were like, “…”
“Is this a synchronized act?”
“They’re just padding their commentary for the higher-ups, right? Suddenly getting so sentimental, is that really necessary?”
“Easy for them to say, sitting pretty. d*mn it, if I’d known, I wouldn’t have bet money! Spirit Coins are way too precious to waste!”
“I don’t believe it! I’m saying it now: if they make it to the sixth level, I’ll live-stream myself eating poop!”
“Screenshot taken.”
“Screenshot taken.”
“Screenshot taken.”
“Bro, need some raw materials? I’ll hold on to it for you, but you might want something fresh later!”
“…”
“Oh gosh, this live stream suddenly has a peculiar vibe.”
“Strong Brother and Little Rain are doing so well holding it together. Is this really what humans do?”
