Absolute Death Game

Tai Chi Sword Skills (pseudo) LV1: This swordplay is created based on Taoist philosophical principles and seems extremely profound and mysterious. However, due to the lack of certain details, its power is greatly reduced. Apart from strengthening the body, it appears to have no special use.

Swordsmanship Effects: When you activate this swordplay, your attack speed decreases by 30%, and your physical strength consumption rate increases by 30%.

The swordsmanship itself could be said to be utterly useless. Not only does it fail to enhance any combat attributes after activation, but it also reduces the attack speed by 30%, while the physical strength consumption rate speeds up by 30%. If brought into battle, it would be less effective than a simple slash.

However, the 'seems extremely profound and mysterious' comment gave Xiao Buli a glimmer of hope. He remembered that in many novels about crossing into martial arts worlds he had read before, the protagonists could bluff their way through with Tai Chi Fist or Tai Chi Sword Skills.

According to the theories in those novels, even though the power of Tai Chi Fist and Tai Chi Sword Skills might be deficient, the theories behind them were very advanced. The only problem was the lack of a Mental Method Mantra or the support of matching inner strength, which made them seem so weak. But this was only for ordinary people.

Once it fell into the eyes of those legendary masters in the Martial World, it naturally would be different.

He hoped this theory was correct.

With this on his mind, he walked towards the sword training field of Gu Yuexuan.

The place where Gu Yuexuan, the eldest disciple, practiced swordplay was in a bamboo forest deep in a valley on a piece of open land.

The closer Xiao Buli got to his destination, the more he could sense the unusual aspect of this eldest disciple. Along the way, he saw many bamboos that had been cut down, with cuts so neat and smooth that there were almost no rough edges, as if they had been cut by a laser.

Such clean cuts were obviously not possible with an axe; the only explanation was that these were the results of Gu Yuexuan's sword training.

From a distance, he saw a figure practicing swordplay in white clothing as white as snow; sensing someone approaching, Gu Yuexuan stopped his movements and stood with his sword at the ready.

"Is it you? What do you want?" Gu Yuexuan asked Xiao Buli with an expressionless face.

"I've heard that Brother Gu's swordsmanship is unmatched, and I wanted to ask for some guidance," Xiao Buli replied.

Gu Yuexuan sized him up, saying skeptically, "You?" Xiao Buli explained, "I certainly do not intend to spar with Brother Gu. My swordsmanship is naturally not worth mentioning compared to yours. I'm fully aware of that. Actually, not long ago, I happened upon an old Taoist who taught me a set of swordplay.

He claimed it was extremely powerful, but only a true master of the sword could comprehend its strength. I didn't believe it, and after learning it, I found it to be a very peculiar set of swordplay, with no power to speak of. However, when the old Taoist used it against opponents, it was incredibly powerful.

I couldn't figure out the key to it, so I wanted to ask Brother Gu to help evaluate this swordplay."

Gu Yuexuan nodded noncommittally, "Then show me."

Without another word, Xiao Buli geared up and began to practice the moves in the air.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Initially, Gu Yuexuan looked disdainful, but after a while, he seemed to become more serious. When Xiao Buli finished his performance, looking expectantly at Gu Yuexuan, Gu Yuexuan just snorted.

"Hmph, it's just so-so, but it does have some interesting points," Gu Yuexuan said, then walked away without paying further attention to Xiao Buli.

What does that mean? Xiao Buli was puzzled as he watched Gu Yuexuan's retreating figure. He had envisioned many possible reactions from Gu Yuexuan but didn't expect such an outcome.

Was it a failure just like that? It seems that luck really can't solve everything.

No, I must ask him for a clear answer. Xiao Buli didn't understand where he had gone wrong. However, after searching the entire bamboo forest, he found no trace of Gu Yuexuan.

Despite his confusion, he grabbed a hamburger and ate it thoughtfully until, after finishing two hamburgers, he began to piece together two possibilities.

The first possibility was that Gu Yuexuan simply didn't value the swordplay, so he left directly.

The second possibility was that Gu Yuexuan hadn't understood the swordplay yet and needed time to digest it.

"I hope it's the second option," Xiao Buli thought to himself.

He wandered around the vicinity for another couple of laps, but came up empty-handed. He had intended to help Qingfeng Mingyue with some tasks to see if he could increase his Prestige, but Qingfeng Mingyue had made it clear to him that, since he wasn't from Mystic Hollow Palace, he wouldn't assign any work to him.

Left with nothing else to do, Xiao Buli saw no other option but to log out of the game and leave the gaming room.

As he entered the lounge, he unexpectedly saw Han Baiqiang smoking in the smoking area near the ventilation duct.

"Hey, good afternoon," Han Baiqiang greeted him, sounding utterly bored, while he blew smoke rings.

"Good afternoon," Xiao Buli replied. Normally, he didn't like to smoke, but he was feeling so agitated that he was tempted to give it a try. He took a pack of some foreign brand cigarettes from the cigarette cabinet and lit one up.

He never inhaled smoke into his lungs when smoking, but seeing Han Baiqiang comfortably puffing away made Xiao Buli curious to try it. He inhaled and immediately started coughing. It seemed he really wasn't cut out for smoking.

"You don't smoke often?"

"To be exact, I don't smoke at all," Xiao Buli clarified.

"What's up, you encountering some trouble?" Han Baiqiang usually seemed carefree, but he could be quite attentive at times.

Xiao Buli shook his head, "Just some minor troubles, nothing serious. By the way, did you succeed in changing your profession?"

Han Baiqiang nodded.

"What profession?"

"I've become a Smithing Master, an advanced profession of a blacksmith, capable of forging weapons and armors," Han Baiqiang explained.

Upon hearing this, a thought flashed through Xiao Buli's mind, "A Smithing Master? That means you're planning on taking the logistics path."

Han Baiqiang nodded again, "Yeah, fighting all the time is fun but risky. Since this job is so important, I think it's safer to walk the logistics path. It might be boring and perhaps earn less, but at least I don't have to worry about losing my job."

Xiao Buli thought to himself that Han Baiqiang was indeed a practical person. Actually, if he didn't know the secret hidden behind the game, he might agree with Han Baiqiang's choice: to pick a specialized profession, make equipment, refine Elixirs, and so on.

But once he truly understood that the real abilities within the game could be brought into reality, he found it difficult to accept such a professional choice.

Besides, even if he took the logistics path, it wouldn't necessarily be absolutely safe. Xiao Buli could easily think of several potential scenarios that could lead to death. Compared to that, combat professions could at least protect themselves when dangerous situations arose.

"What profession did Li Baocheng choose? He seems quite popular."

"Wanderer. It's said to be very advantageous in field battles, capable of exerting great power in the wilderness, somewhat like a Ranger but focuses on ranged attacks," Han Baiqiang said.

Xiao Buli thought to himself no wonder Li Baocheng was so confident he would be assigned to the White Tiger Group, such a profession could indeed only maximize its power within the White Tiger Group.

It seemed that both of them were not foolish, either. Although it was ultimately the company that assigned groups, determining one's direction of development in advance would certainly have an impact at the time of assignment. After all, if the company had any sense, they wouldn't likely place a Smithing Master in the Azure Dragon Group, or a Wanderer in the Xuanwu Group.