【Azure Dragon in the Sleeve completion: 64%.】
This time, there was no notification of failure.
With assisted casting completely disabled, without any system correction whatsoever, Yin Huaichen had actually succeeded in executing the move using his own control.
His eyes lit up instantly.
So it works!
Although the completion rate still fell short of his own standards, only slightly higher than with assisted casting, for Yin Huaichen, this represented an entirely new path.
He also noticed that as the completion rate increased from 60% to 64%, the damage dealt rose slightly as well. It seemed that skill damage was positively correlated with completion rate.
The surrounding players, after briefly testing their skills, had already gone off to turn in quests and made no further stops but Yin Huaichen remained, continuing to practice in place.
The point of force at the waist could be adjusted further. Align the tailbone with the body’s center of gravity, this would allow the blade to carry greater penetrating power during the strike…
Players came and went in waves yet Yin Huaichen remained before the wooden dummy, continuously executing the skill. With each strike, he felt it becoming smoother, more natural, more effortless than before.
Having not used inner breath for so long, he was still somewhat unaccustomed to it but as he continued adjusting its flow, his proficiency gradually improved.
Inner breath, in the Martial Artist class, functioned as a form of energy. For most players, it was equivalent to the typical “mana bar” in other games but for Yin Huaichen, it was something intimately familiar.
His actions began to attract the attention of other players.
“Why is that guy still here?”
“He was here when I left earlier. I already went out, killed a bunch of mobs, came back to turn in my quest and he’s still practicing?”
“What a weirdo…”
“Hmm… why does his skill look a bit different from mine?”
Though they found it odd, there were all kinds of players in a game this large. After a few curious glances, they returned to their own tasks. With the game just launched, every second counted, who had the time to worry about what someone else was doing?
Who knew how much time had passed before Yin Huaichen suddenly stopped.
It wasn’t because he was tired.
A notification had sounded in his ear.
Ding!
【Your weapon “Cangming Sword” durability is critically low.】
Looking at the wooden dummy, now battered beyond recognition, Yin Huaichen let out a long breath and rolled his wrist, deciding to stop for now.
It had been years since he last used inner breath. Regaining the proficiency he once had would take time.
When he had entered the game, it had been broad daylight. Now, it was already nearing evening. Checking the time, Yin Huaichen realized he had spent nearly five hours practicing sword techniques. His completion rate had improved significantly yet his level hadn’t increased at all…
Time to go grind.
Thinking this, he turned around, only to notice someone standing not far behind him, watching him.
It was the same NPC who had taught him the skills earlier. Who knew how long he had been standing there.
Seeing Yin Huaichen approach, the middle aged man looked slightly startled. “Young friend, you have good talent.”
Yin Huaichen blinked. “Weren’t you receiving players?”
“Oh, we rotate shifts.” the man replied casually.
“…”
NPCs have shifts too?
Glancing back, Yin Huaichen indeed saw that the NPC at the entrance had been replaced by a younger disciple, while players continued arriving in a steady stream.
“Is it over there to turn in the quest?” Yin Huaichen asked.
The man did not answer directly. Instead, he said, “When you used Azure Dragon in the Sleeve just now, your stance was a feint step. Though it was a direct thrust, your wrist flicked outward. Why is that?”
Yin Huaichen raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the man’s perceptiveness. “A full stance is too rigid, it’s easy to be countered and expose openings. As for the wrist movement, that’s my personal habit. I press downward with my off hand to prevent overextension, making it easier to transition into the next move.”
The man nodded in realization, then added, “But the Cangming Sword Manual I taught you does not describe it that way.”
Yin Huaichen shrugged indifferently. “Martial arts aren’t math problems, there’s no standard answer. Everyone has their own way of using it. The same move can take on countless variations in different hands. What’s so strange about that?”
His tone was not particularly polite yet the man showed no sign of annoyance. Instead, there was a hint of admiration in his gaze. “You are truly a rare talent.”
“Of course I am,” Yin Huaichen replied matter of factly.
The man: “…”
Not modest at all, huh.
Seeing the man fall silent, Yin Huaichen asked again, “So, do I turn in the quest over there?”
Snapping back to his senses, the man looked him over. “You can turn it in with me as well.”
After completing the quest for him, the man paused, then added, “Recently, disciples of the Cangming Sword Sect discovered hostile creatures causing trouble in the western outskirts of Thousand Mechanisms City. As a member of the sect, you also have a duty to contribute to its peace…”
Quest triggered: “Gu Xingxiu’s Commission.”
【Accept?】
This was likely the next step in the sect’s questline. Without much thought, Yin Huaichen accepted.
Before heading out to grind, he needed to repair his nearly broken weapon. Leaving the Cangming Sword Sect, Yin Huaichen quickly found a player of the Recluse class near the teleportation point leading out of the city.
In Eternity, class was a broad category, while sects were subdivisions within that category. For example, as a Martial Artist, Yin Huaichen could join various sects under that branch, each with its own characteristics but he could not join a sect belonging to another class. If he tried to join an Arcanist sect like the Blazing Heaven Institute, he would be rejected due to class incompatibility.
The Recluse class, however, was different. It was not combat oriented but rather focused on life skills. Players could join workshops like the Heavenly Craft Pavilion or the Green Pouch Pavilion to become artisans or alchemists, or take unconventional paths, such as joining the Thieves’ Guild to become a pickpocket, or the Shadow Bureau to act as a spy.
“Eight silver.”
The player Yin Huaichen approached was an artisan from the Heavenly Craft Pavilion who had learned weapon repair. Taking the worn out Cangming Sword, the player, named Milan the Little Blacksmith, glanced at it briefly and quoted the price.
Yin Huaichen checked his inventory. After completing the introductory quest, he had received ten silver as starting funds. He hadn’t even had time to warm them in his pocket before needing to spend most of it.
What else could he do? It wasn’t like he could fight monsters barehanded.
With a sigh, Yin Huaichen completed the transaction.
Milan the Little Blacksmith began taking out his tools to repair the weapon, casually chatting as he worked. “You’re a female player, right?”
Yin Huaichen blinked.
Was this guy seeing things?
“I’ve got a sharp eye, you know.”
Milan the Blacksmith gave him another once over, then waved a hand with complete confidence. “Other than female players, who would spend that much effort customizing their face? You must’ve spent a long time on yours, right?”
“… ”
There had been a character customization stage when creating an avatar but at the time, Yin Huaichen hadn’t even paused to think, he’d selected the Martial Artist class almost instantly and skipped the entire face adjustment process. As a result, he’d entered the game wearing his own face without alteration.
Seeing him remain silent, Milan the Blacksmith took it as confirmation that his guess was correct.
To be fair, the face on this Martial Artist was genuinely well crafted. He’d been running his stall here for quite a while and among all the players he’d seen, only this one, “Yin Wuchang”, had made him look twice. The features were distinct and refined but more importantly, they carried a natural liveliness. Many players sculpted beautiful faces but they often looked artificial at a glance.
“Most Martial Artists bulk themselves up, make their characters look big and tough,” Milan the Blacksmith continued curiously. “You’re this slim, why not play something like a Sorcerer or a Spirit Weaver? Why pick Martial Artist?”
Anyone who practiced martial arts hated being called skinny. Yin Huaichen felt a flicker of irritation but he suppressed it. “Personal preference.”
You’ve been talking this long. Is my weapon fixed yet?
“Right now, Martial Artists can’t even find teams,” Milan the Blacksmith added kindly. “You might as well reroll. Deleting your character only takes a day’s cooldown. The server just opened, it’s not too late to switch classes.”
Yin Huaichen tilted his head slightly. “Are Martial Artists really that weak?”
“At this stage? Not exactly popular,” Milan the Blacksmith admitted.
The boy’s bright, clear eyes made him instinctively want to say more. “Mainly because they’re at a disadvantage. Short range, fragile body, high skill requirement. Fighting monsters up close means you die easily. You’re better off bringing a couple more Sorcerers, leveling’s way smoother. You have no idea, the player forums are full of Martial Artists deleting their characters and starting over…”
A full dive game wasn’t like playing behind a keyboard. Controlling a character on a screen was one thing; controlling your own body in a simulated reality was something else entirely.
Many players hadn’t thought it through when creating their characters. Only after leveling did they realize something was off. As the first fully immersive consciousness diving game, the experience was extremely close to reality.
Most people had never even killed a chicken in real life, now they were expected to engage grotesque monsters in close combat. Naturally, they struggled to adapt.
Even with system assisted skills, when faced with razor sharp claws and overwhelming pressure, most players simply closed their eyes and swung blindly. Their minds went blank, their rhythm collapsed and calm, calculated responses were out of the question.
In comparison, classes like Sorcerers or Soulbinders were much easier to handle. The former could stand at a distance and cast spells; the latter had it even easier, summon a companion to fight while they lounged behind, snacking. The gameplay experience was worlds apart.
Yin Huaichen gave a noncommittal “oh.”
Skill in martial arts was never built overnight. In his previous life, every renowned expert had climbed step by step through relentless training. Compared to that, players who could simply learn a skill and use it instantly were already unimaginably fortunate.
“Done.”
Milan the Blacksmith finally finished repairing the weapon and handed the Cangming Sword back to him. “Add me as a friend? If you need repairs or want custom weapons later, come find me, I’ll give you a discount.”
Craftsmen from the Heavenly Workshop advanced through forging. As a non combat profession, competition among Hidden class players was fierce. Having a stable customer base made leveling much easier.
Yin Huaichen didn’t refuse. He added him casually, then turned and headed toward the city gates.
Milan the Blacksmith watched him leave, scratching his head in confusion. “Strange… isn’t the Cangming Sword Sect quest area in that direction?”
…
The road leading out of the city toward monster zones was packed with players. Some were forming parties, others returning from grinding to resupply. The area bustled with activity.
“Wolf Fang quest, need healer from Spirit Weaver class, level 51!”
“Ironblood leveling team recruiting ranged DPS, no Martial Artists, fast runs only!”
“Five silver per bottle! Antidote potions, essential for Snake Fang Marsh, bulk discounts available, PM me!”
“Looking for CP, you’re the only one!”
Voices overlapped, players shouting through broadcast horns like a noisy marketplace.
Yin Huaichen passed a few stalls selling equipment. Some had decent stats but unfortunately, he was short on funds. After repairing his weapon, he only had two silver left, he couldn’t even afford healing pills. With no choice, he moved on after a brief glance.
The quest from Gu Xingxiu required collecting ten Fierce Monster fangs. These creatures inhabited a dark valley outside Thousand Mechanisms City.
At level three, they posed a considerable challenge for players at this stage. By the time Yin Huaichen followed the system map to the valley, there were noticeably fewer players around, most of them traveling in groups.
Carrying his newly repaired Cangming Sword, he quickly found his first target.
It was a lone Fierce Monster, nearly two meters tall, vaguely humanoid in shape. Its skin was a viscous black like tar, covered in raised ridges resembling basalt repeatedly scorched and cooled by magma. Dark red veins pulsed faintly beneath the surface.
No wonder Martial Artists weren’t popular… Setting aside whether an ordinary person could defeat such a creature, just fighting something so grotesque at close range was already a test of nerves.
That said, this type of creature hadn’t existed in his previous life. The faint gray aura surrounding it resembled demonic energy but far more violent.
Facing his first real battle in the game, Yin Huaichen felt no fear. Instead, a subtle thrill stirred within him.
He circled quietly behind the creature.
The Fierce Monster hadn’t noticed him, still wandering through the dim valley. With the light blocked by steep cliffs, it looked like a creature of the night, a lurking predator in darkness.
Hold breath. Focus.
His right foot stepped forward. Starting from the spine, power coiled within his body. The sword trembled faintly, like a lurking dragon poised to strike.
The monster seemed to sense the killing intent behind it. Its movement paused as it turned.
At that exact moment, Yin Huaichen’s blade struck.
The sharp whistle of steel slicing through air was piercing and swift. Enhanced by the force mechanics of the “Knocking Sword Stance,” the “Azure Dragon in Sleeve” surged forward with unstoppable momentum, a flash of cold light, striking instantly into the creature’s skull.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ COFFEE OFFERING
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Remember to keep a positive moodChapter 2 · Have fun playing the gameChapter 3 · Skill completion rateChapter 4 · Strange and malevolent creatures roam outside the cityChapter 5 · 90% complete!Chapter 6 · Serving the sect is my dutyChapter 7 · First meetingChapter 8 · Fang LecangChapter 9 · A prestigious and righteous sect!Chapter 10 · Kill Chi BantuChapter 11 · Spoils of warChapter 12 · We’ve made a fortune!Chapter 13 · Thunder and fire extinguish goldChapter 14 · You found it?Chapter 15 · The so called degree of freedomChapter 16 · The secrets of life and deathChapter 17 · A minor leader of the first rank.Chapter 18 · What kind of luck do you have?Chapter 19 · Let’s Do itChapter 20 · The BOSS escapedChapter 21 · “A wound to the heart is also a wound.”Chapter 22 · Good people are always blessed.Chapter 23 · The Old Man of the Valley of BonesChapter 24 · It’s me, young master!Chapter 25 · Take it slow and steadyChapter 26 · The older they get, the stingier they becomeChapter 27 · You know this person tooChapter 28 · I saw Wei Wanzhou againChapter 29 · You’d better keep having this kind of luckChapter 30 · “Password lock” crackedChapter 31 · We’ve come to punish you!Chapter 32 · A boorish country bumpkin who knows no manners.Chapter 33 · You have crossed the lineChapter 34 · Now that we’re here, do you think we can leave?Chapter 35 · A trivial skillChapter 36 · Actually, I was just kiddingChapter 37 · Upgrade mission complete, rating: SSS!Chapter 38 · AwardChapter 39 · I have always been law-abiding and law-abidingChapter 40 · Are you coming back for dinner tonight?Chapter 41 · Purple Lightning Square Seal.Chapter 42 · A money-grubberChapter 43 · BetChapter 44 · Four Continents Chamber of CommerceChapter 45 · This was my third meeting with Wei WanzhouChapter 46 · Oh, you want to hit on me.Chapter 47 · The angry drizzle has stoppedChapter 48 · Thunder SpearChapter 49 · “Are you a devil?”Chapter 50 · The Impermanent Lord!?Chapter 51 · Loot everywhere..Chapter 52 · His identity remains a mystery.Chapter 53 · Why not show yourself?Chapter 54 · He confronted Li Mingrui.Chapter 55 · Auction