Jianghu Smoke and Dust (Please Pin)

"After killing Inner Strength Realm jianghu wanderer Three Shadows Sword Liu Yegui, you received 30 Potential Points, 20 Cultivation Points, and 30 Jianghu Reputation."

As Liu Yegui was killed, a notification appeared on Jiang Dali's panel.

Compared with when he had killed Qiu Xuemei, who had also been at the Inner Qi Realm, the Potential Points and other rewards Liu Yegui provided were undoubtedly far fewer.

However, that was because Jiang Dali was now at the same strength level as Liu Yegui, whereas killing Qiu Xuemei had been a challenge beyond his realm.

Jiang Dali did not place much value on these few Potential Points and Cultivation Points.

In the Comprehensive Martial World, the only effective way to quickly obtain Cultivation Points and Potential Points was not by killing NPCs.

Otherwise, with so many players and NPCs unable to revive, no matter how formidable the NPCs were, they would eventually all be killed off as time passed.

The most effective way to gain Cultivation Points and Potential Points was to complete faction missions and various triggered quests, take part in the storylines of different sects and schools, or find and consume rare heavenly treasures like Blood Bodhi and Thousand-Year Vermillion Fruit. All of these could yield a great deal of Cultivation Points and Potential Points.

Jiang Dali looted Liu Yegui's corpse and took every item on him, especially his famous weapon, the Three Shadows Sword. It would serve as one of the tokens for turning in his mission.

"You obtained 500 taels in banknotes and one Grade 2 sharp weapon, the Three Shadows Sword."

The Three Shadows Sword was a short sword only as long as an adult's forearm. Its blade had an exceptionally peculiar design, with three blood grooves extending outward along the spine like birds' wings.

When this sword was drawn and swung slightly faster, sunlight reflecting off it would give people the illusion of seeing three streaks of sword light. Hence its name: the Three Shadows Sword.

A small portion of Liu Yegui's reputation and strength had depended on the special qualities of this Grade 2 sharp weapon.

Unfortunately for him, he had encountered Jiang Dali. With an Iron Cloth Skill and Golden Body Skill nearing the outstanding level, as well as Grade 1 defensive equipment like the Golden Silk Armor, Jiang Dali completely countered the Three Shadows Sword's sharp killing power.

After packing up his belongings, Jiang Dali placed Liu Yegui's corpse together with those of the two dead beggars, covered them with dry grass from within the temple, then turned and left.

Those of the jianghu died in the jianghu.

Jiang Dali felt no particular sentiment over having killed Liu Yegui.

In his eyes, from the godlike perspective he held over the Comprehensive Martial World, what players experienced might merely be a game, a form of entertainment.

Yet what native NPCs like Liu Yegui experienced was a real life of flesh and blood. Only someone like him, caught between players and native NPCs, could sense the difference—a feeling filled with strange wonder.

One day later.

Inside the bamboo tower at a Green Robe Pavilion outpost.

The female Silver Killer could not conceal her surprise as she stared at the Three Shadows Sword lying on the table. She could not help picking it up for inspection, then rose and praised Jiang Dali. "I never expected you to dispose of Liu Yegui so smoothly. Though he was only a Bronze Killer, he still possessed exceptionally rich combat experience. You've done very well."

Jiang Dali smiled calmly. "I just used my head a little."

"A killer who knows how to use his head is an outstanding killer!"

The woman nodded faintly, a hint of amusement in her eyes beneath the veil. "Very good. You now count as a Silver Killer. Your appointment token will be issued shortly. From now on, you may enjoy the treatment afforded to Green Robe Pavilion Silver Killers."

Jiang Dali also received a panel notification at that moment.

"You have completed the mission 'Deal with the Green Robe Pavilion Traitor.' Mission rewards: promoted to Green Robe Pavilion Silver Killer; Green Robe Pavilion Contribution increased by 100; Cultivation Points increased by 100; Potential Points increased by 200; Jianghu Reputation increased by 100."

"Excellent!"

Jiang Dali praised inwardly.

The advancement in status was far more important to him than obtaining Cultivation Points and Potential Points.

After becoming a Green Robe Pavilion Silver Killer, he could access more intelligence and records from the Green Robe Pavilion, and would need to spend fewer Contribution Points to do so.

After chatting with the woman for a few more moments, Jiang Dali learned that her surname was Xu, and that he could address her as Xu Waiwu. She was also a Green Robe Pavilion Silver Killer, but already possessed Outer Qi Realm strength.

Just then, two screams rang out from outside the bamboo tower.

Turning to look through the window, he saw Wanderer in the Red Dust and the other two enter the bamboo tower once again to challenge it, only for the nameless swordsman guarding the tower to instantly kill two of them.

Only Wanderer in the Red Dust noticed that things had gone wrong and fled the bamboo grove in a sorry state.

The nameless swordsman did not pursue him. He merely watched Wanderer in the Red Dust escape with an indifferent expression, then casually flicked up the clothing left behind by the two dead men, who had turned into white light and vanished, and tossed it outside the grove with his sword.

"These three are exceedingly strange and interesting. They are born as Otherworlders, possessing immortal bodies. No matter what method is used, they cannot be killed. At some other outposts, some Otherworlders have already been recruited into our Green Robe Pavilion. I also intend to recruit these three."

Seeing Jiang Dali's attention on the scene outside, the woman smiled faintly.

Jiang Dali's heart stirred, and he asked, "I've encountered such Otherworlders before as well. It seems that many have appeared all across the land. With our Green Robe Pavilion's intelligence network being so formidable, have you discovered why these Otherworlders are so unusual?"

The woman shook her head. "That, I do not know. But all the Otherworlders discovered thus far are extremely weak, no different from ordinary people. They possess strange gifts, yet are truly unable to withstand a single blow.

"However, every sect and school now values the gifts of these Otherworlders. They are recruiting them in great numbers, accepting them through their gates, teaching them martial arts after testing their resolve, all in the hope of borrowing the Otherworlders' strength to bolster their sects.

"I have even heard that forces such as bandit strongholds have set their sights upon the Otherworlders.

"This is a rare human resource, and naturally our Green Robe Pavilion cannot let it slip away. But they must undergo tests before they are recruited.

"Many Pavilion Masters have said that the Otherworlders possess formidable gifts, so they must not be casually taught core martial arts, much less rashly entrusted with important responsibilities, lest we be devoured by them in turn."

"That makes sense."

Jiang Dali smiled and nodded.

Faced with a group of possibly immortal Otherworlders, they might be rare "sustainably expendable" talent, but it was perfectly normal for the natives of the Comprehensive Martial World to retain a measure of vigilance.

That was also why, in his previous life, it had been so difficult for players to learn high-level martial arts, and even harder to become high-ranking figures within great sects and schools.

After chatting with Xu Waiwu for a while, Jiang Dali took the initiative to bid farewell and leave.

As he galloped down the road, he happened to spot two players who had resurrected at the City God Temple and come running over naked, reuniting with Wanderer in the Red Dust.

The three adorable little newbies all watched him ride away with eyes full of yearning and admiration. They looked dusty and bedraggled, rather dazed and foolish.

On horseback, beneath the swaying veil, Jiang Dali's lips curled slightly.

A cool breeze brushed his face, and the peach blossoms remained unchanged. Layer upon layer of the past seemed to replay like yesterday, yet also drifted away like mist and clouds. He felt as though he had vaguely caught sight of shadows from his former life.

Who, walking the roads of the martial world, had never dreamed of becoming a great hero, sword in hand, roaming to the ends of the earth? Who had never dreamed of battling a lone city through rain from all eight directions, watching sword qi at dawn and hearing the clash of blades? Who had never dreamed of warming wine, savoring flowers, getting drunk amid wind and snow, and idly composing verses amid beacon fires, song, and dance?

But before becoming a great hero, the image of that silly, dirt-smudged boy shouting that he wanted to learn martial arts seemed just as worthy of remembrance.

It seemed everyone had come this way.

"Life is but a dream, but an illusion too. To hell with past lives and present ones—hahhaha! Bottoms up!"

Jiang Dali laughed loudly, flicked up the wineskin with his saber, and threw back his head to drink deeply.

"Hyah—"

Clop clop clop clop—

On the roads of the martial world, dirt flew through the air, the horse's hooves sped ever faster, and dust trailed all the way behind.

Let me recommend a friend's book, Stronger Every Night. Well, the title is a bit suggestive, but the content should be proper. It's a fantasy novel by an experienced author—he grows stronger through dreams. Take a look if you're interested.