Jie Jie Jie

Refined Long Halberd

Quality: Fine (Purple)

Attack: 45 Durability: 80/80

Description: A Fine Weapon forged whenever the Old Master at the blacksmith shop made his monthly move. It was far more powerful than standard-issue weapons!

The description of the Refined Long Halberd was more or less the same as the Refined Cold Blade in Yang Shan's hand.

Both were Fine Weapons with Purple Word Seals, but the Refined Long Halberd provided a much greater attack boost.

However, it was also far heavier than the Refined Cold Blade.

Chao Bafang's level was still relatively low, so he even needed to use Dou Qi to assist himself in wielding it during combat.

If Chao Bafang landed a solid thrust with that halberd, killing Wang Tianhao's underlings—whose highest level was only Two-Star Fighter—in one hit would be no problem at all.

But Yang Shan moved first, using the Refined Cold Blade to block Chao Bafang's halberd.

Chao Bafang froze. "Great God, what are you doing?"

Yang Shan smiled. "Forget it. This has nothing to do with you. No need to drag trouble onto yourself."

Chao Bafang said, "It's fine. PKs are commonplace in games. I owe you a favor, so I have to repay it."

Yang Shan said, "Then even more so, you can't."

Chao Bafang asked, "Why?"

Yang Shan replied, "Using a bunch of small fry to repay a favor from a top expert like you would be way too wasteful."

Although Yang Shan was clearly flattering him a little, Chao Bafang's eyes lit up. "Oh? That's true. Looks like I'm a pretty impressive expert now too!"

Chao Bafang had already completed two Purple quests from the Mercenary Guild.

He had obtained a Yellow Rank Mid-Level Cultivation Method with a Purple Word Seal, as well as a Fine Weapon.

Although the quests had delayed Chao Bafang's leveling, his foundation now surpassed that of the vast majority of Players.

"Then can I just help the Great God voluntarily? The kind where I don't ask for anything in return?"

Yang Shan said, "Nothing in return? What are you, running a charity?"

Chao Bafang said, "What are you saying, Great God? If it weren't for you, how would I have gotten such a handy weapon? If you need help and I don't lend a hand, can I even call myself human?"

Watching Yang Shan and Chao Bafang chat away so enthusiastically, Wang Tianhao felt like he, the mighty top whale of Shun Huo Nuan, was being treated as thin air.

"Get them! All of you, get them!"

Yang Shan had just killed one of his underlings in a single slash, then taken out Xiao Ji, his capable lackey, after only a few exchanges.

But Wang Tianhao still believed that since the server had only just opened, the gap between Players' attributes could not possibly be that large.

Yang Shan might be able to kill someone instantly in a one-on-one fight, but two fists could not beat four hands.

More than twenty Players were attacking together. They were all Fighters—there was no way a human-wave tactic would fail! Wang Tianhao shouted, "No matter what happens today, make them drop their equipment!"

Chao Bafang immediately yelled back, "What? You want my equipment to drop? Why don't you take a look in the mirror? A bat with chicken feathers—what kind of bird do you think you are?"

Yang Shan nodded solemnly.

He hadn't expected Chao Bafang's trash-talking skills to be no weaker than his gaming skills!

Wang Tianhao had always been above others. When had he ever endured such mockery? His face had practically turned liver-colored. "Get them! Whoever makes their equipment drop gets a ten-thousand-RMB bonus!"

Heavy rewards brought out brave men. Before RMB, Wang Tianhao's underlings instantly transformed into mountain bandits, charging forward with swords, spears, clubs, and wild howls.

Without another thought, Chao Bafang grabbed his halberd and roared, "Kill!"

He brought the halberd down in a head-on chop, knocking the sword from an underling's hand.

Then Chao Bafang swung the halberd in a full arc and swept it sideways.

The crescent blade at the tip of the halberd accurately stabbed into the underling's lower back.

Most Players kept their pain sensitivity set very low. Even when blades struck their bodies in battle, it felt about the same as being hit with a pillow.

So the underling showed no sign of pain.

Yet his expression was one of utter horror.

Chao Bafang's strike had dealt over two hundred points of damage!

It had to be said that Chao Bafang was quite talented.

When Yang Shan had been farming Savage Bulls earlier, Chao Bafang had watched from close range.

He had also tried to imitate Yang Shan's unpredictable footwork and tricky angles of attack as much as possible.

Weakness Strike was a compulsory lesson in Battle Through the Heavens.

It was especially important in the early game.

Even after reaching the Dou Emperor level, when both sides unleashed overwhelming torrents of Dou Qi in battle—

once an opponent's defenses had been broken and victory was within reach, one still had to try to kill them instantly, lest they counterattack desperately before dying.

The underling fighting Chao Bafang was already scared stupid.

"Mom! Wang Shao, something's wrong with this guy! His attack stat has to be close to three hundred!"

Chao Bafang's attack certainly hadn't exceeded three hundred. It wasn't even a hundred.

Chao Bafang was overjoyed. Hehe, Weak Point Attack. The elder in the Novice Realm really had a sharp eye. I truly do have the makings of a great emperor!

Chao Bafang quickly dealt with that underling, then whirled the halberd overhead with great force.

"I am General Chao Bafang! You petty scoundrels, surrender at once!"

Yang Shan darted past Chao Bafang and remarked, "Buddy, you're a little edgy."

"How is that edgy?"

Chao Bafang retorted.

"Reality already makes it hard enough to breathe. When you're playing a game, you've got to let yourself go!"

Even while swinging his halberd, Chao Bafang named his own moves.

"One Spear Suppresses the Four Directions!"

"Two Spears Shake the Eight Desolations!"

"The spear still stands, now bring me your ass!"

The immersive experience brought by Battle Through the Heavens had completely intoxicated Chao Bafang.

At that moment, he had fully cast himself as a valiant general on an ancient battlefield! Yang Shan seemed to be infected by Chao Bafang's enthusiasm as well.

But it made sense.

Why did people become obsessed with games?

Because they were the purest way to cast off pressure and please themselves.

Yang Shan shifted positions several times in succession, dodging the swords and blades coming at him from the surrounding Players. He held the Side Blade in a reverse grip, lunged backward with a thrust, and instantly killed another person! That familiar feeling was back! The feeling of being a first-rate expert in his past life, moving freely through a crowd of thousands. Yang Shan unconsciously let out another strange laugh. "Jie Jie Jie!"

Chao Bafang laughed and cursed, "Damn! Great God, are you some kind of archvillain?"

But seeing Yang Shan laugh so arrogantly, Chao Bafang couldn't hold back either.

"No, I can't let you be the only one acting smug. I'm joining in!"

Chao Bafang raised his halberd and smashed it down, even sending his opponent's weapon flying. "Jie Jie Jie!"

The two "Soul Hall fans" began slaughtering people right in front of Wang Tianhao.

It wasn't quite as easy as killing chickens, but Wang Tianhao's underlings truly were no match for Yang Shan and Chao Bafang.

Five minutes later, Wang Tianhao was already the only one left.

During that time, Chao Bafang had taken out six people.

Yang Shan had dealt with the other sixteen.

Their kill efficiency wasn't even on the same level.

Chao Bafang gave him a thumbs-up.

"Awesome!"

Yang Shan coolly sheathed his blade.

Why?

Finished Work needed a sense of ceremony, of course, so he struck a pose to show off!

Then Yang Shan and Chao Bafang simultaneously looked toward Wang Tianhao, the only one still standing.

"Fuck!"

The Chinese language was profound and vast. A single word perfectly conveyed Wang Tianhao's current feelings.

But even now, Wang Tianhao still possessed an inexplicable confidence.

He put on a cold expression. "Fine. I didn't expect to run into experts today, but let me remind you of something: I have plenty of money! In online games, money means people! You can beat twenty people, but can you beat five hundred?"

Seeing Yang Shan remain silent, Wang Tianhao pressed his advantage. "Hand over your equipment, and I'll let this go. I can even offer you a contract to become the chief Player of the Tian Hao Alliance. Your monthly base salary will be thirty thousand RMB. Think it over."

Wang Tianhao had a brain.

He needed the aura of a top whale, he needed the equipment, and he needed the people too! Signing Yang Shan would bring countless benefits to the Tian Hao Alliance's future development.

As for this little conflict, Wang Tianhao could generously pretend it had never happened.

Chao Bafang whispered.

"Great God, thirty thousand a month. Work hard for two years and you can buy a home in a fourth-tier city! Why not consider it?"

Yang Shan glanced at Chao Bafang and said only one thing.

"My family owns mines!"

Seeing that even money couldn't settle this, Wang Tianhao flew into a rage out of humiliation and drew his sword. "I refuse to believe it! You've fought for so long—your Dou Qi can't possibly be full yet!"

In fact, it really wasn't depleted.

The Yellow Rank High-Level Cultivation Method with a Golden Word Seal was no joke. Yang Shan's Total Dou Qi was more than triple that of an ordinary Player!

Although Wang Tianhao had decent equipment, his gaming skills were truly limited.

The way he swung his sword was practically identical to that elderly internet celebrity, Ma Baoguo. Even Lightning Five Whips might have been faster than Wang Tianhao's swordplay! Yang Shan was just about to send Wang Tianhao back to the city when Chao Bafang stopped him. "Great God, let me duel him. Those Players earlier had no fighting ability. His equipment looks pretty good, so he should be stronger."

Yang Shan said, "Fine. I'll watch your back."

Chao Bafang raised his Long Spear.

"I am General Chao Bafang. I shall fight you fairly. Come, taste my halberd!"

Just as Chao Bafang finished speaking, an earthshaking beast roar rang out.

The Savage Bulls that had been peacefully grazing on the prairie bolted as if they had seen a ghost.

Yang Shan, Chao Bafang, and Wang Tianhao all instinctively looked toward the source of the roar.

A fiery-red magical beast, shaped much like a leopard but more than twice as large, came charging from the distance.

Chao Bafang stared in shock. "WTF, what kind of magical beast is that? It looks so badass!"

"Who cares how badass it is? Run!"

Yang Shan grabbed Chao Bafang and took off.

Yang Shan remembered this magical beast all too clearly.

The Fire Cloud Leopard! The Tier 2 peak King of Beasts that had caused a huge commotion in Cloud Frost City in his previous life.

It lived in the Fire Rock Hills, not far from this Great Prairie.

At Tier 2 peak, it was equivalent to a peak Dou Shi.

As a King of Beasts, the Fire Cloud Leopard was even stronger than many low-star Da Dou Shi.

Moreover, unlike the solitary Clear Wind Bird, the Fire Cloud Leopard was not alone.

It commanded a large pack of Tier 2 Elite magical beasts, the Black Wind Leopards.

In Yang Shan's previous life, the Fire Cloud Leopard had caused a huge commotion in Cloud Frost City.

Countless Players had died in the Fire Rock Hills.

Several guilds had even organized raids against it, only to suffer total party wipes.

It wasn't until the first wave of Players had reached the Dou Shi level that they managed to kill the Fire Cloud Leopard.

At the time, the Fire Cloud Leopard's drops had caused a massive uproar on the forums.

However, although Yang Shan had invested quite a few attribute points into Agility, as an Eight-Star Fighter, there was no way he could outrun the Fire Cloud Leopard.

For some reason, whether because it couldn't see properly or because it was starving, the Fire Cloud Leopard insisted on charging toward them.

"Great God, boss! It's a boss! Stop running and let's take it on!"

"Take it on? Right now, all you can do is get taken on by it!"

Chao Bafang was rather prone to getting carried away.

Could current Players possibly handle a Tier 2 peak King of Beasts?

If they could, Yang Shan would have long since claimed the first-kill reward for a Tier 2 King of Beasts! But as the Fire Cloud Leopard drew closer, Yang Shan noticed, Why does this Fire Cloud Leopard have so many wounds?

There was a bone-deep wound across the Fire Cloud Leopard's waist, clearly inflicted by a sharp weapon. Blood continued to gush from it as it ran.

As the Fire Cloud Leopard rapidly closed in, its bell-sized eyes glared viciously at Yang Shan. It opened its mouth and spat out a fireball larger than a millstone.

"I didn't even provoke you! Why are you breathing fire at me right away?"

Yang Shan viciously kicked Chao Bafang in the ass.

Chao Bafang wailed as he flew away, while Yang Shan used the force to leap in the opposite direction.

Both of them barely avoided the fireball, but they were still hit by the blast's aftershock.

Yang Shan's entire back caught fire.

After landing, Yang Shan rolled on the ground three times to extinguish the flames.

Since they couldn't escape, they had no choice but to fight.

The chances of victory were slim.

But a man had to die standing, at the very least! "Beast, where do you think you're going!"

The sound of galloping hooves rang out. A young woman dressed with an immortal air rode in on a fine horse, a longsword in hand.

With a sweep of her sword, a gust of force flew from its blade and split into three.

The Fire Cloud Leopard let out a low growl as if wary of it, then leaped three times in succession to evade the gusts.

Chao Bafang was stunned. "Dou Qi turning into a horse? What kind of expert is this?"

Not far away, Wang Tianhao was still dazed, but the moment he saw the young woman's exquisite face, he snapped out of it.

Wang Tianhao was no longer dazed, but Yang Shan was.

"N-Nalan Yanran?"

Nalan Yanran AI image—provided by a reader