Chereads / How to Cultivate a Game / Chapter 35 - Extra Life Bar

Chapter 35 - Extra Life Bar

After the earth-shattering events in Sword Metropolitan, Hou Shing decided to return to his sect and report the news. As he was only at the 2nd stage, he can only run his hardest to return to the secluded sect village of the Flowing Blade Sect.

Arriving by the river banks of the Flowing Blade Sect, Hou Shing waved his hand to greet the sentry. Walking above the water with swift steps and qi-covered soles, he easily bypassed the river.

He walked past the gate with hurried steps.

In the Sect village, a place where most outer disciples stayed, Hou Shing looked for the Sect master. Usually, their Sect Master is either with the outer disciples or inner disciples. All of the sect's inner disciples are currently on a traveling journey like him.

Their Sect Master who hated boredom with ardor would definitely not stay still. He'd definitely be around the sect village teaching some outer disciple or even organizing a formation training.

Contrary to Hou Shing's expectations, he cannot see his Sect Master anywhere. "Disciple, have you seen the Sect Master?"

One of the disciples who has been practicing with a staff politely addressed Hou Shing. "Senior brother, Sect master is entertaining some guests by the waterfall. It seems that the Sect Master has accepted a challenge to duel…"

The outer disciple excitedly said.

"Why are you here? And where are the three elders?" Hou Shing is flabbergasted.

Their Sect Master is usually a showoff, and the outer disciples love to watch a good fight. Heck, even the inner disciples would love to see the Sect Master fight. They just cannot, as because most of the challengers are repelled by the few elders their sect has. There were even some instances when an inner disciple wanted to suck up with the Sect Master, so they'd volunteer to fight the challenger.

It was something like 'Do you think you are worthy?' that kind of situation.

The outer disciple awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

"Uuumm… Sorry, senior brother… We are not worthy…"

???

Understanding the confusion on Hou Shing's face, the outer disciple quickly explained.

"There are two of them, and they are already at the 3rd stage. Master is at 4th stage, but I think he will too have a hard time. The three elders who are all on the 3rd stage were defeated in one move by the handsome swordsman. It was awesome!"

"…"

Is he actually cheering for the rival?

Hou Shing intimidatingly raised his qi. "That was your elders, have some respect!"

"Sorry," the outer disciple lowered his head. "I won't do it again!"

"What about the other, if the swordsman is already this powerful, then his companion must be as strong…"

The outer disciple nodded. "It was a beautiful fairy, she and the swordsman is a match made by heaven! I swear this is my first time seeing a restorative martial spell. With a single wave of her hand, she healed the three elders!"

Hou Shing gasped. Felling three cultivators at the same stage is monstrously difficult enough but a cultivator with Martial restorative spells? That is as rare as superior arts!

Calming his heart, Hou Shing rushed to the waterfall. There is no way his Sect Master would lose because the Flowing Blade's Sect master is at the 4th stage! The Spirit Mystery realm is not to be trifled with as it has already embodied the four Earthly Attributes!

Destroying Hou Shing's expectations of a marvelous battle was the Sect Master and the two visitors peacefully drinking tea…

What happened?

"Oho~ Hou Shing! Looks like you've returned so much earlier! Greet your senior brother and senior sister here," the Sect master of Flowing Blade sect cheerily beckoned Hou Shing. "Hurry you, little bastard!"

"I greet senior brother and senior sister!" Hou Shing politely greeted the two with vigor.

But really? Senior? Them? They looked to be around his age though...

Hou Shing is a prideful man. It seemed that his Sect Master didn't even fought the two, but he has to treat them as seniors. This is too baffling for Hou Shing.

"Sect master, I thought that there was a duel?" Hou Shing whispered. Of course, the two visitors also heard it. They didn't mind as they continued to look solemn as they continue to calmly sip their tea.

The Sect master Ruan Kong angrily looked at Hou Shing. With a thought, Ruan King used Sound Transmission to Hou Shing.

"I've already dueled the young lass. She lost. The young man doesn't want to duel me for obvious reasons. I can sense from my Spiritual Sense that he almost has no qi left now. He must've expended it all on defeating the three elders. It was such a beautiful sword art. If he really wanted to kill, the elders would have been dead already…"

Ruan Kong suddenly halted his words as his thoughts wander about… He continued talking to Hou Shing through Sound Transmission.

"That lass apparently is the granddaughter of my old rival, Xiang Fu… He should rest in peace knowing that his daughter has grown this strong and beautiful… Now, I assume the young swordsman must be the late Xiang Fu's disciple, so do you understand now why I want you to call them seniors?"

Hou Shing furiously nods, realizing how big this news is.

Ruan Kong's mind stayed for a minute about his old friend. Hearing the news of his death from his granddaughter herself is reliable enough that this news is true. In the Flowing Blade sect, Xiang Fu is somewhat of a legend.

Understanding the different sword arts of the sect within a year is a sign of his great genius, which explains how legendary he is… But one day he suddenly disappeared from the sect never to be seen again.

Ruan Kong assumed that he must've crossed the Sandwyrm desert to continue his path to cultivation. What he learned from Xiang Ya indicated that his rival, Xiang Fu, must've failed on crossing the desert thus leading to his regressed cultivation.

For this, Ruan Kong didn't look down on his old rival. After all, such man even with his internal injuries and regressed cultivation was still able to repel a demonic cultivator of the 4th stage.

Common sense dictates that demonic cultivators of the same stage tended to be stronger than normal cultivators. The reason is simple, it is because demonic techniques are vile, tricky, and mysterious.

The number of normal cultivators failing to win over demonic counterparts would count to thousands. Poison, parasitic, and blood techniques, there are all sorts of wicked arts in this world which only increases in numbers because of the demonic sects' continued existence.

Ruan Kong looked at the sword the young swordsman is carrying, which was certainly Xiang Fu's sword.

Standing from his lotus position, the young swordsman introduced himself to Hou Shing. "I am Nee Chen, the Humble Blade, a pleasure to meet you…" Nee Chen cuffed his fists and made a slight bow.

"Y-yes, the same goes for me… I am Hou Shing, I don't have any moniker yet…" Hou Shing returned the gesture by doing what Nee Chen also did.

Humble Blade? Hou Shing hasn't heard this nickname in the martial world or in the mortal world. This must mean that this swordsman isn't that famous at all…

Nee Chen smiled at Hou Shing… "If I may, could I challenge you to a duel?"

Hou Shing frowned. He just heard from his Sect Master that this swordsman's qi is bottomed out, but to think he still had the arrogance to challenge someone into a duel? Humble? What humble?

His Sect master is signaling to him to not accept it, but honestly, Hou Shing wanted to accept it. There is no grand reason for it… He is just jealous… Come on! He is about his age, yet he already has a girl beside him. Moreover, he is so strong his Sect Master praises his sword art greatly!

So what if he is jealous!? It is so painful to be a single dog, you know? Especially as being single comes at a package for most cultivators! Hou Shing is aware of his own prowess. He cannot definitely defeat Nee Chen with his current abilities, but that changes things if the said Nee Chen has barely any qi.

"Yes, I accept!"

Nee Chen smiled at his words but suddenly had an apologetic look. "I am sorry but this is too shameless of me… Maybe you've learned of it already through your Sect Master, but I have almost no qi… So if you don't mind, can Xiang Ya use her restorative arts to heal me while we duel? It would seem a two vs one, by then, but I'd really appreciate it if you accept my request?"

Xiang Ya chimed in. "I will only use the Heal Art and that alone. I won't interfere in the battle except to supply Chen with a steady amount of vigor."

"S-sure? Yes, sure!" Hou Shing doubtfully agreed on the arrangement of the two. It is not like extra vigor would help in a duel right? Except for prolonging the duelist's life?

In sacred duels, after all, the presence of a restorative cultivator is a necessity to protect the cultivators from certain death, so does that really change things? Moreover, even if Nee Chen has an extra life bar, would that improve his fighting abilities?

Hou Shing pushed away his doubts as he raised his sword.